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True Crime Conversations: Patrick Hinds, Josh Hallmark, and Eric Carter-Landin

December 13, 2025·48 min·4 clips

Eric shares how his brother's murder 39 years ago fuels his true crime podcast and advocacy work.

This episode features a conversation between Patrick Hinds of True Crime Obsessed, Josh Hallmark of True Crime Bullshit, and Eric Carter-Landin of True Consequences. They discuss their origins in podcasting and their distinct perspectives as gay men within the true crime community. Eric shares that his brother Jacob was murdered 39 years ago, which drives all his advocacy work, including his nonprofit and founding AdvocacyCon. Patrick explains he started True Crime Obsessed in 2017 with Jillian Pensavalli as a creative outlet to cover documentaries, initially labeling it a comedy podcast before reconsidering that term. Josh recounts living in a van in 2015, discovering podcasts, and launching his deep-dive show on Israel Keyes because no one had covered it extensively. Patrick describes the show's humor as stemming from laughing through rage at injustices or poorly made documentaries, not from making jokes about the crimes. Eric discusses the intense personal toll of balancing advocacy for his brother's case with producing a podcast, emphasizing the necessity of self-care. Josh talks about the pressure of listener demand for his long-form investigations, noting each five minutes of audio represents about two hours of his life. The group praises the podcast "Wine & Crime" for skillfully balancing humor and respect, and they discuss the increasing importance of providing mental health support for people who participate in true crime documentaries. Patrick mentions the Robin Roberts Hulu series "Murder Has Two Faces" as a positive example of caring for interviewees. Eric reveals a shocking listener interaction where a man sent a condolence message about his brother followed by an unsolicited explicit photo. Josh and Patrick share their own awkward experiences with inappropriate listener messages, including Patrick accidentally "hearting" an underwear photo. Patrick values listener feedback for growth, recalling how he educated himself on suicide after receiving criticism on a Patreon episode. The conversation touches on the complexities of parasocial relationships, with Patrick loving to meet fans at live shows but acknowledging the challenges. Josh recommends the podcast "Beth's Dead" as an exploration of dangerous parasocial dynamics between creators and listeners. Eric details his brother's case: Jacob was nine months old, and the sole suspect confessed twice but was never charged due to issues with proving intent and a lapsed statute of limitations. A listener campaign, "10 Days of Jacob," pressured officials to refer the case to the state attorney general, who later closed it after a limited investigation. Eric explains AdvocacyCon is a trauma-informed event designed to provide families of the missing and murdered with practical resources, expert advice, and therapeutic support. Josh mentions recently enjoying the serialized podcasts "Who Took Misty Copsey" and one about Talena Czar, a woman who disappeared during COVID. The tone is conversational, candid, and often humorous, with hosts sharing personal anecdotes and professional reflections. The style is informal and engaging, featuring friendly banter and moments of heartfelt disclosure. This episode is ideal for fans of these hosts or anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes realities, ethical considerations, and personal motivations of true crime podcasting. Listeners seeking only case analysis or straightforward crime storytelling might find the meta-conversation less engaging.

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