In The Dark

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In the Dark, hosted by Madeleine Baran, is an award-winning investigative-journalism podcast that started in 2016. Its first season looked at the mysterious abduction of Jacob Wetterling in rural Minnesota and the lack of accountability that sheriffs face when they fail to solve cases. Season 2 examined the case of Curtis Flowers, who was tried six times for the same crime. In 2020, In the Dark released a special report on the coronavirus pandemic in the Mississippi Delta. In 2023, In the Dark joined The New Yorker and Condé Nast. “The Runaway Princesses,” a four-part series that asks why the women in Dubai’s royal family keep trying to run away, came out in January. 

In the Dark is a two-time Peabody Award winner and, in 2019, became the first podcast to win a George Polk Award, one of the top honors in journalism. The program has also received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award.

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Recent Reviews
  • Kwkr
    THIS is investigative journalism!
    I am so impressed with this pod cast! Every aspect is outstanding,technical,reporting, research and delivery. Madeleine Baran is simply superb in this project. The kidnapping/murder case of Jacob Whetterling is investigated 27 yrs after the fact and gathered more evidence than the incompetent Sheriffs dept could have dreamed of at the time of the murder. Delving into the timeline of what was and wasn't done opens a further investigation into the history of horrible procedures by the Sheriffs office for decades. The shoddy investigation had me just saying OMG over and over. Update S2- Fell in love all over again. I’ve heard pods on Curtis Flowers but this…unparalleled. I wept thru the whole last episode. Madeleine has such a “listenable” story telling voice. Curtis sounds like Muhammad Ali!❤️
  • M. Lives
    Gold Standard Not Only For True Crime Pods But Journalism
    Title says it all. Dogged, relentless reporting of our institutions that uncovers the truth. But lest you think it’s some dry morality lecture series, the series also manages to be fascinating, and addictive, keeping you listening long after you said that’s the last episode. Do yourself a favor and binge the whole series right now.
  • a2z24
    So good!
    Fair, professional, in-depth podcast looking at all the angles.
  • Xbound24
    Incredible journalism
    Some of the best, most dogged reporting I have ever heard. Just incredible work.
  • CatGotMyTongue
    A+ Journalism
    Season 3 was especially devastating and infuriating.
  • cammc206
    Seasons 2&3 Amazing
    The negative reviews calling this podcast “liberal” are wild. I guess the “conservative” opinion is that the U.S. government should execute innocent black people and the US military should indiscriminately murder innocent children?
  • made by E
    Binge worthy
    I was working on a huge project so I binged seasons 2 and 3 in a couple of days and wow. 1) excellent work in season 2 - your reporting brought much-needed attention to a grave injustice and helped save a man’s life. 2) I always knew the war on terror was really just a bunch of American kids dropping terror on foreign nations but it’s so much worse than that. Thank you for giving a voice to those families. One thing the really stood out in both seasons was that the people that hated you the most were/are guilty and perhaps downright evil.
  • d00dles4science
    WOW
    Listening to this podcast after it was recommended on Death in Ice Valley, one of my favorite podcasts ever. This one was just as mind blowing and eye opening. I have so much respect to this team for shedding light on injustices that are happening today in this country, and for doing some good in the world! The show does cover some heavy stuff but if you enjoyed Serial I highly recommend it. No podcast is perfect or can please everyone, of course; still, they did an impressive amount of honest work and research- and that journalism helped to free an innocent man who had been on death row for decades. Incredible! I found it totally binge-worthy and deeply touching. Keep up the great work!
  • iloveclunk
    Think you can do better
    This podcast is good. I get a little tired of the host hounding the police in season 1. None of the current officers were even on the force back then. They can’t answer your questions. Does law enforcement need more training? Always. But if she thinks it’s so easy and they’re all so incompetent, by all means sign up .
  • reggeee
    Sold out
    Sorry, but you lost all credibility when you let The New Yorker in. A totally woke, biased rag of a magazine. Shame.
  • nothanks64
    Required listening
    Every American should listen to gain some perspective on the true impact of the “war on terror”
  • gfsyuhvcghhh
    Booo…..
    Liberal podcast
  • BEC SPK
    Narrator
    I like the podcast very much but the constant pausing in the middle of sentences gets tiring. It’s like reading a speech vs telling a story.
  • Matt Newell
    Phenomenal
    This is one of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Season three was very hard to stomach, but I’m so glad some much needed light has been shed on these despicable crimes.
  • GillyATC
    The best investigative podcast.
    Three excellent-to-perfect seasons of exhaustively researched storytelling. This journalism literally freed a wrongly imprisoned man (season 2), not your average result. The negative reviews are a bit baffling; I get differing tastes but it mostly seems like some just don’t wanna hear things they don’t wanna hear.
  • Fjjaksjdn
    Less coke
    Relax more
  • Happygodavo
    Stands with Serial as the Best
    Excellently presented journalism and storytelling. Perfect. I don’t see how any person of empathy could listen to any of these Seasons and not be completely drawn in by the humanity that is portrayed in each. Perfection.
  • Alyssa Clare-Ann
    Being American
    If you think being a Marine automatically makes anything you do justified you should reconsider what it means to be human. War is not an all access pass to kill babies or tell people they shouldn’t grieve over entire families dead. Honestly there are a lot of parts that I don’t think these reporters pushed hard enough. The lack of empathy from some of these men astonished me. Tears and grief over a man who chose to go to war (still justifies grief of course) but hardly a scoff for toddlers shot in the head. Americans need to get off their high horse and stop assuming that everything our military and government does is without blemish. This story needed to be told and it was. Anyone who assume that one’s placement in a country like Iraq automatically qualifies you as a terrorist, a liar, or otherwise will never be able to listen to something like this without bias to begin with. Being an American is hardly the greatest thing on earth and the quicker we stop acting like it is the better off we’ll be.
  • Catymuhlady
    Thank you for covering these topics!
    Seasons 1 and 2 were dramatic and life changing. Real journalism leading to real changes. For season 3, I at least take solace in the fact that the severity of PTSD that the perpetrators of the massacre definitely now have is so life-hindering that they are suffering the natural consequences of their actions. Even if those marines are complete sociopaths, incapable of empathy, I know the magnitude of their mental illnesses will ultimately take a physical toll on them. This is the only justice served in this case, unfortunately. So glad that handling of war crimes is even being discussed!
  • Bschora
    FLUFF SCORE. 13%
    / Episode length: 56 min. / Fluff + Ads ⭕️ ⬆️ : 7 min. / Avg time between ads: 14.00 min. / Based on episode: S3E6. ==========================
  • Sam4241
    New Yorker
    I’ll give it a fair listen. But it’s the New Yorker which is nothing but a liberal rag piece of . !
  • c zootini
    Like this podcast but did not like the sex offender sympathy
    In the Jacob wetterling podcast they talk about the sex offender laws like they’re a bad thing, like sex offenders deserve anything less. Insane to me that anyone could have sympathy for a sex offender.
  • avspnj
    A must listen for any true crime fan
    I’ve researched this case on other podcasts and this was by far the best one! It was extremely researched and well presented. There were so many layers of this story I hadn’t heard about. Definitely a must listen.
  • Heartbroken4Justin
    Season 3 Episode 7 Innocent in my Eyes
    I’m so sad because I believe Sharratt killed himself due to the stress he must have felt knowing this podcast was in the works. In the episode, I noticed that Madeline conveniently skimmed right over the timing of his suicide, which was right in the middle of her ‘investigative journalism’. My heart goes out to his family. I’m sure this is why Mattis said all that he said in his letter to Justin…He knew what Justin would be up against and gave him that letter in the hopes that it would somehow help him deal with people/podcasts like Madeline’s.
  • mommyofaddyandsammy
    Defending sea offenders?!!
    I was very invested in this podcast until they spent a whole episode defending sex offenders. I thought they’d turn it around but, no, they double-downed. They’ve done their time so why put them on a list?! Madness and really, just gross.
  • JT in 562
    Excellent
    One of the best podcasts made. Thoroughly investigated and excellent narration. I'd put this into my top Five podcasts available.
  • trigve
    Huh?
    The people (journalists. podcast hosts, and law-enforcement) involved with this case seem incredibly.naïve.
  • Parisite
    Thoughts
    Listening to the latest show. A couple of thoughts….when you make the statement “I’ve never heard anything like that” and use this as confirmation that something is not a fact because you never heard it before, it can undermine your credibility. Another thought is about the value of a woman’s testimony. There is no thing as women’s rights, as a woman, live there and try to immerse yourself in the culture. Women are compliant to men in everything. Would they lie to support what their husband’s, brothers, father’s and uncles? I think women’s rights are backbone to the success of a society but we cannot compare them to what we experience in the US. As for the witness testimony, it seems as if the local testimony is accepted but the US testimony is assumed to be wrong (in some cases, the US testimony has been debunked in the reports). There is so much intricacy in war and these stories, I don’t think it can be broken down into a black and white story. I enjoy your show and felt compelled to share my view on the program. Thank you
  • MMZulu74
    Thorough, important investigative journalism
    I retired after 26 years in the Army and cherish the bonds and professionalism of my fellow Service members. But it doesn’t prevent me from being introspective or critical of the mistakes of the whole and crimes of individuals. This type of investigative journalism is necessary for us to grow and demonstrate humanity. Accountability does not cease when too much time passes.
  • haleyd222
    Amazing
    Fantastic reporting. Season 2&3 are must listens.
  • Crimejunkie29
    Season 3 is amazing
    It’s been a while since I have been enthralled into a podcast like this. Madeline is so aware of her position as an American/westerner when telling the story of those affected by American soldiers. It was thorough and compassionate investigative reporting!! Excellent!
  • Snowshoes22
    Necessarily painful
    Every season of In The Dark is a painful listen, but season 3 has been especially gut-wrenching. I can’t praise these journalists enough for their tireless, thorough investigations into the agonizing injustices that underpin American life. Their dedication, intelligence, and compassion shine through in every episode, and it’s really special. The one podcast I always recommend to everyone.
  • AL_GORE
    Sex offender sympathizer
    Great podcast until they became a sex offender sympathizer.
  • emkrause02
    Brave
    The reporting for this podcast, specifically season 3 is so brave. We need these stories. We need to hear the other side that our MSM and government don’t want us to hear. Parts were so difficult to listen to, but I’m grateful for the stories told.
  • tarrytopia
    Is this true crime?
    Get to know your audience . . . We love true crime because its a way of inoculating our senses from the negative emotions. We *believe* that if we can take death and tragedy in small bites, on our own terms, then when the trials of life hit, we might be better equipped to deal with them. Do you have 4000 listeners per episode, but wish it was only 2000? Well, here’s an idea, add some politics (left, right, green - it matters not). You will see your listeners decline. Will 2000 more listeners suddenly join because they share your views? Do people search for “democratic true crime podcasters” or “republican true crime podcasters?” Nope. If I want politics, I have about 50 firehoses from which to drink every single day. JUST GIVE US THE DEAD BODIES AND DNA!
  • Scot2944
    Trump
    You are jumping the shark if I wanted political analysis, I would tune in to a political show. I come here to get away from that. I guess I gotta find another outlet.
  • Frizwhisperer
    Astonishing
    I listen to quite a few podcasts each week and I stumbled across season three a while back. I’ve rarely experienced reporting like this. Madeline is an incredible interviewer and a journalist who takes the time to pull the threads that lead to details in cases that no one else in the press seems to have found. I can’t wait for more. Thank you, Madeline.
  • Kyoostar1
    The best!
    This podcast is incredible! Well researched, beautifully produced, excellent host. I feel so much smarter and well informed. And I look at the military in a whole different light. I never would have known anything about the true story.
  • wondwrsofyaz
    Amazing Podcast
    I truly admire the lengths the journalists go through to find the truth. Season 3 is a work of art!! That you for being so diligent. Prayers to the family. Best podcast ever
  • MylissaR
    Just stop
    There’s always an agenda with the left. Deceptive, fake agendas to make things something they aren’t.
  • the_greatdane
    Not sure how I feel about this show
    Not sure how I feel about this show that seems to want us to think they are investigating corruption and incompetent law enforcement but seem to have an agenda against any form of structured society or something. Maybe they’re just giving me a weird vibe, but they seem real cozy with criminals and stuff. Maybe I’m just not intellectual enough to appreciate this investigative reporting
  • lytlee11
    Best podcast of all time
    Season two is absolutely amazing. It’s exactly what true crime needs to be and should aim to accomplish. Incredible work.
  • JT Sooner
    Thrilling
    You don’t want to stop listening.
  • Evan, South Side Chi Town
    What a gift to the U.S.
    Brave and smart and human and true. And true and loving. Thanks you.
  • kmwarren38
    Great start but…
    Loved Seasons 1, 2 and the Runaway Princesses but I feel your team was way out of your depth taking on the Marines and what happened in Haditha. I heard one-sided reporting. Disappointing.
  • Scott 817
    If you are a biased person, good bye
    No thanks. Sweetheart ive been an executive in corporate life and spent 4 years in the Marine Corps in an infantry unit. The Marines were better , genuine people than the fortune 500 I spent 25 years in. You came with a preconceived notion and disguised this as an open documentary. Its not. Shame on you for basically lying.
  • @trippn
    Another lib “journalist “
    How about you join the marines and then do this story. War is ugly and if it was up to you libs china would control this country.
  • Crazy Tibetan yak
    Better journalists
    So these journalists did much better job than the police and DA of that county
  • shuvarahim
    Extraordinary
    This is such a powerful series and I’m not even done with it yet. Thank you to the In the Dark team for the hard work and persistence that went into ensuring this story isn’t lost in history.
  • sUzQb
    Moving and Mind Blowing
    While so many details are hard to accept, this is a story that needed to be told. Investigative journalism at its best, cultivated with passion and patience. Superb.
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