When you think about your ideal type, what do you usually look for in a man or a woman? In today’s age, when people are too busy with their careers to go out and people are too engrossed with their phones, dating sites are people’s to-go to find their suitable partner. But what if the person you met is almost too good to be true? Maybe they are. Dirty John Podcast is a true crime podcast that will make you wonder how far naivety and manipulation will go.
About Dirty John Podcast
Journalist Christopher Goffard divulged the story of Debra Newell, a wealthy and successful interior designer who met John Meehan through an online dating site. John first introduced himself as an anesthesiologist, and Debra fell head over heels for him. In fact, within the few months that they have known each other, they married and moved in together. Debra’s daughters were fully skeptical of his intentions right from the start, and it is pretty much safe to say that their instincts were right.
In Goffard’s comprehensive narration and interviews of the people who knew John, we learn about his dirty secrets (pun intended) that he has kept for a while. The storytelling is brilliant, and even though it is not the best true crime podcast there is, it is one of the most popular as far as mini-series go. Here we get to see how Goffard unravels the story bit by bit until the revelation is out and about. We get to understand Debra’s point of view throughout the story, no matter how frustrating it gets over time.
The story became so popular that the podcast received positive reviews from different magazines and became one of the most downloaded podcasts on iTunes America. At the same time, there is also a TV adaptation in November 2018.
What Is Great About The Dirty John Podcast?
The Dirty John story became popular in the true crime scene even though it is not your ordinary case. In fact, I first learned about this case from a YouTuber who talks about true crime cases, and she was able to retell the whole story. I listened to the podcast right after. Even though I already know the background and all of what happened in this case, there is still a lot to love about the podcast because of its great narration. The suspense is still there, even if I was aware of how things went by and how it ended.
The range of interviews that Goffard compiled gives a glimpse of what kind of person John is. You will be able to explore the extent of the abuse Debra went through. You will be able to sympathize with her. Even if the podcast was supposed to focus on the horrendous crimes that Dirty John has committed, but Goffard is still able to emphasize the picture of how Debra was manipulated by this notorious con man. The execution is well done and has provided much detailed information within its limited time frame of 7 episodes.
What Is Not?
When it comes to Dirty John, I believe that the podcast is well-executed except for some issues with the interviews where we hear the people involved in the story. There are times when the interviews would make you wince with how dragged it was. Better support of narration would have done well to save it.
At the same time, I understand that they most probably thought that showing raw emotions in the podcast. There are also times when the interviews are tangled up and confusing. It would be best if Goffard clarified these so the story would flow smoothly. Otherwise, the narration was at its best, and there were no complaints.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I believe it is one of the most engaging true crime podcasts out there, even if it is not your usual story. It can happen to anyone, and the story was more or less relatable to some. It is one of the reasons why the podcast got so popular, even if it was just a mini-series. If you want a compelling narrative that will keep you at the edge for hours. The infamous Dirty John is a must-listen podcast. The story of how everything unfolds and the interesting insight of the narrator. It involved people will keep you engaged in the story.
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Thank you for your kind words! It’s always a pleasure when readers find value in my work. Thank you for taking the time to read and bookmark it, too – I really appreciate it!