Rephonic
Artwork for Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

True Story Media
Wade Zick
Ellen Zick
Mandan Murders
Dakota Spotlight
Zealand
Zealand, North Dakota
1976 Murders
Zeeland
North Dakota
RJR Murders
Chad Isaak
RJR Maintenance and Management
Sebastian Feist
David Feist
True Crime
Mcintosh County
RJR
Thanksgiving
Bismarck Tribune
Zealand, the Untold Story Of Wade and Ellen Zick

Dakota Spotlight is a true crime series investigating unsolved murders, cold cases, and missing persons in North Dakota and the Midwest. Hosted by investigative journalist James Wolner, each season takes a deep dive into one case, from rural crime and small town murders to decades-old disappearances. Through meticulous research, exclusive interviews, and on-the-ground reporting, Dakota Spotlight b... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes226Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryTrue CrimeSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

Latest Episodes

In the season’s final chapter, Dakota Spotlight returns to Rapidan, Minnesota—to the classmates, friends, and families still living in the shadow of Ray Dahms’s murder. Host James Wolner traces the final years of Brian Lee Hendrickson, from later cri... more

YouTube

By the early 1980s, Brian Lee Hendrickson was still working at the Minnesota Home School in Sauk Centre, supervising teenage girls. When one of them—Michelle—spoke up, she was dismissed as unstable and her accusation brushed aside. Hendrickson walked... more

YouTube

This episode looks inside Minnesota’s prison and parole system during the years when Brian Lee Hendrickson was behind bars—and how shifting attitudes toward rehabilitation vs punishment helped lead to his early release. We hear from Brian’s brothers,... more

YouTube

The second half concludes the You Killed Chris story — newly abridged and remastered. Through interviews, archives, and reflection, I revisit Linda’s decades-long effort to confront the man she believes murdered her college friend — and how her deter... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Midwest Murder
Midwest MurderJonah Lantto & Dawn Palumbo with the Good Talk Network
PRETEND
PRETENDCreative Babble, LLC
Ice Cold Case
Ice Cold CaseMadison McGhee
Betrayal: Weekly
Betrayal: WeeklyiHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Recent Guests

Roger Funson
Former classmate of Ray Doms.
Episode: Meanwhile in Mankato (4): The Parole Experiment That Failed at Sauk Centre
Mark Hendrickson
Brian Hendrickson's brother, and youngest of four children, who offers insights into the family and Brian's actions.
Episode: Meanwhile in Mankato (3): The Trial That Collided with Miranda
Gary Hendrickson
Another brother of Brian, who shares his experiences and reactions to the murder and trial.
Episode: Meanwhile in Mankato (3): The Trial That Collided with Miranda
Ron Fields
Witness who discovered Ray Dahms' body
Episode: Meanwhile in Mankato (2): Inside the Murder Investigation
Gaye Bulo
Ray Dahms' fiancée
Episode: Meanwhile in Mankato (2): Inside the Murder Investigation
Javier Leiva
Host of the Pretend Podcast
Pretend Podcast
Episode: The Real Catch Me If You Can: Javier Leiva on Debunking Frank Abagnale
Eric Grabowsky
Freelance news writer with an interest in cold cases
The Dickinson Press
Episode: The Mysterious Disappearance of Keith Schmidt
Joe Loya
Former bank robber and the subject of the show 'Get the Money and Run.'
Episode: Introducing - The Burden: Get the Money and Run
Eric Carter-Landin
Host and producer of the podcast True Consequences, seeking justice for his brother's murder.
True Consequences
Episode: The Ethics of True Crime: A Conversation with Eric Carter-Landin

Host

James Wolner
Host and investigative journalist known for in-depth exploration of true crime cases and dedication to bringing victim stories to light.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Fabulous podcast

    Podcast Addict
    5
    slatersli@hotmail.com
    22 days ago
  • Excellent

    Well researched and atmospheric. Love the voice too!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LJ N
    United States23 days ago
  • Compelling!

    I come back season after season for a reason; compassionate, creative and professional journalism. And I for one am thrilled you made a point to publicly support and stand with immigrants.

    ❤️ It further confirmed why I love this channel. Don’t stop speaking up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bek3930
    United States23 days ago
  • You Bud Lighted Dakota Spotlight

    I've loved this podcast, so much so, I became a subscriber. Recently, James posted a FB disclaimer "apologizing" for the ads that play in between shows, one of which was apparently an ICE recruitment ad. Why give it any attention at all? For those who allegedly complained about the ad, just a reminder that the ads are independent ads would have sufficed but been unnecessary; rather, James went on to plead that in addition to him not being responsible, he was NOT a supporter of ICE. Not cool. I p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    KimBatt
    United States24 days ago
  • Great as always

    I 100% support your right to express whatever opinions you like. I have listened to everything you’ve done, your documentaries have always been focused on the humanitarian and compassionate side of the story. That’s why I return. I would expect nothing less.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zombiedog24
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience members appreciate the compassionate and professional journalism style, especially regarding sensitive topics and marginalized voices.
Listeners commend the in-depth coverage and investigative quality, highlighting the personal connections and emotional nature of the stories shared.
There are mixed feelings about the podcast's engagement with political topics, with some praising the humanitarian approach while others express frustration over perceived bias.
The series is well-researched and atmospheric, captivating listeners with its storytelling and attention to detail.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#158
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#163
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#233
United Kingdom/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The House on Sweet and Seventh (2): Never Ever Narc – A North Dakota True Crime Story
Q: What was Detective Halvorson's approach while interviewing the teenagers?
He attempted to extract truth from Ryan and others, all while grappling with their defense of each other during the investigation.
The House on Sweet and Seventh (2): Never Ever Narc – A North Dakota True Crime Story
Q: How did the teenagers involved in the situation view their loyalty to each other?
They prioritized loyalty to friends over truth, leading to their reluctance to share information about the killings with police.
The House on Sweet and Seventh (2): Never Ever Narc – A North Dakota True Crime Story
Q: What did Ryan know about the events that took place leading up to the murders?
He initially claimed not to know much but eventually revealed disturbing details about his friends' involvement in the murders.
The House on Sweet and Seventh (6): Escape to the Movies – A North Dakota True Crime Story
Q: What happened on that night in September of 1998?
Misty recalls confusion and fear as she describes witnessing the violence but initially not fully grasping the gravity of the events.
The House on Sweet and Seventh (3): Patience Pays Off – A North Dakota True Crime Story
Q: What can you tell us about your experience during the investigation?
It was a traumatic moment reliving the details of such a brutal crime.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series focuses on true crime investigations, particularly unsolved murders, cold cases, and missing persons primarily in North Dakota and the Midwest. Each season is dedicated to a specific case, providing in-depth explorations through meticulous research and personal stories that showcase the effects of these crimes on victims' families and communities. The podcast features compelling narratives that interweave personal testimonies and thorough investigative journalism, ensuring that the stories of forgotten crimes are revived and heard in a respectful manner. It stands out for its unique blend of detailed storytelling and investigative rigor, appealing to listeners interested in social justice and the intricacies of criminal justice ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Midwest Murder
2. PRETEND
3. Ice Cold Case
4. Betrayal: Weekly
5. Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 226 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Roger Funson
2. Mark Hendrickson
3. Gary Hendrickson
4. Ron Fields
5. Gaye Bulo
6. Javier Leiva
7. Eric Grabowsky
8. Joe Loya

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days