Culpable 5-Year Review | Live From CrimeCon 2024

Podcast: Culpable
Host: Dennis Cooper (with Producer John Street)
Release Date: July 3, 2024
Recording Context: Live at CrimeCon 2024, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, TN

Episode Overview

This special, live-recorded episode marks the five-year anniversary of the Culpable podcast. Host Dennis Cooper and lead producer John Street sit down at CrimeCon 2024 to reflect on the journey of the show, discuss the impact of their investigations, and give a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and rewards of long-form true crime storytelling. They delve into the origins of Culpable, recount key moments from seasons one and two, and talk about shifting towards their newer Case Review series. The conversation is candid and deeply personal, with both reflecting on the human element behind the cases and the podcast’s mission to be a voice for the voiceless.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of CrimeCon & the 5-Year Milestone

• CrimeCon’s Impact: CrimeCon played a pivotal role in the podcast’s origin, as Dennis first heard about Christian Andreacchio’s case at the very same venue in Nashville at CrimeCon 2018 ([04:52]).

  • “We were approached by a family member of Christian’s at the Torture 2018 CrimeCon in Nashville, right here at the same place. And that’s how I eventually learned of his story, which turned into Culpable.” – Dennis ([04:52])

• Five-Year Anniversary: The episode serves as a reflection point and a celebration with fans and supporters.

  • “It felt right to take some time to do a bit of reflection…and there couldn’t be a better opportunity than the five-year anniversary of season one at the very place where we first learned of Christian’s story.” – Dennis ([00:33])

2. Origins and Early Challenges of Culpable

• Dennis’s Background: At the time, Dennis had no experience in podcasting—he worked a 9-to-5 in telecommunications ([06:28]).

• Connecting with Christian’s Family: He was deeply moved after speaking with Christian’s mother and felt an emotional obligation to pursue the case ([07:33]).

  • “Still was not planning on making a podcast…my heart just broke for her, hearing what she’d been through in the past…At that point, just my heart was in it.” – Dennis ([07:33])

• Reluctance to Host: Dennis initially tried to avoid hosting the show and only did so out of necessity ([10:09]).

  • “The funny thing is, I tried my hardest to get out of hosting it…But there just wasn’t anyone else qualified to take it on. So it was honestly even kind of chance that I took on that role…” – Dennis ([10:09])

3. The Unexpected Success and Its Toll

• Achieving #1: Season one’s rapid success came as a shock given the humble beginnings.

  • “Not only are you a podcaster…and now you have a number one show. Like, what is that journey like?” – John ([11:56])
  • “I didn’t expect it to make that big of a splash, and I didn’t expect that many people to keep listening…those are returned listeners…they care what I have to say…That was a big achievement.” – Dennis ([11:56])

• Personal Cost and Mental Health: Dennis candidly discusses the immense psychological pressure, work-life imbalance, and even suffering his first panic attack.

  • “There was a breaking point with Culpable for me that…was very much a turning point…just the thought of everything kind of caught up and actually I had my first ever panic attack and that was really scary…” – Dennis ([13:27])
  • “From there it was like, okay, how do I prevent this from happening again…So, yeah, I mean, from there, like, I was actually in, I was in therapy for the rest of season one and even afterwards. So, you know, big supporter of that, changed my life around…” – Dennis ([15:10])

4. Transition to Season Two and New Challenges

• Season Two Backstory (Brittany Stykes): After a period of healing (and a legal challenge following Season One), Jessica Noll, a journalist, brought Brittany’s case to Dennis ([17:08]).

  • “I met Jessica Noll…She told me about this story near her hometown of Brittany Stykes, a young pregnant woman who was gunned down on the highway while driving to her dad’s birthday…” – Dennis ([17:08])

• Switching Cases: Moving from Christian’s story to Brittany’s brought new perspectives and collaborative partnerships.

  • “If anything, I would say making season two was a much easier and smoother process.” – Dennis ([20:09])

• What Draws Them to a Case: Dennis selects cases following either a gut feeling or an emotional pull; each case is chosen for different but deeply personal reasons ([21:43]).

5. Storytelling Philosophy: Prioritizing the Human Element

• Focus on Victims and Families: The show purposely spends significant time humanizing victims, sometimes against feedback to “just get to the case.”

  • “It’s just something I feel passionate about, is just protecting that human element and these victims…I just feel like in the middle of that story, there’s obviously a victim who isn’t just that guy who died in Meridian, Mississippi…” – Dennis ([24:01])

• Ethical Responsibility: The hosts believe honoring and centering the victim’s story is crucial to ethical true crime reporting; this personal connection shapes the show’s tone and approach ([24:01]).

  • “So much of what we do is, like, I always say, like, giving a voice to the voiceless. And that’s not only the victim who’s obviously lost their voice, but also their families…” – Dennis ([27:01])

6. Evolution into Case Review Series

• Reason for the New Format: Case Review was born from the desire to address more cases and help more families, recognizing that not every case is suited for a season-long investigation ([30:31]).

  • “It was hard to have this nagging feeling…that we could be helping so many more in that time span… So that’s what Case Review was really about—was a way to highlight more cases, hopefully make a difference in more cases, give more families…ears.” – Dennis ([30:31])

• Creative Differences: Summarizing a case in a single episode comes with new storytelling challenges, but enables broader exposure and support for lesser-known cases ([33:47]).

7. Feedback, Impact, and Looking Ahead

• Listener Response: Reception to the case review format has been largely positive; Dennis values feedback but prefers not to “live in it” ([35:09]).

• Culpable’s Purpose: The core mission—giving a voice to the voiceless and pursuing truth—is unchanged.

  • “At its core, Culpable just means deserving blame. Right. But we don’t want people to get that twisted and think that our show is about pointing fingers at people, because it’s not…my ultimate purpose behind it is to hopefully uncover the truth, find answers, and at the very least, do a service to that victim and give a voice to them…” – Dennis ([36:26])

• Season Three Teaser: Case Review is not replacing long-form seasons; Dennis hints season three is in development and will be based on a case that started as a Case Review episode that has since dramatically evolved ([40:40]).

  • “Rest assured, it’s not the future. Like, the future is going to be season three of Culpable…But we’ll probably continue to do our case review series as well.” – Dennis ([40:40])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On connecting with the victim’s family:
  “My heart just broke for her, hearing what she’d been through…At that point, just my heart was in it. And I was like, you know what, this would be a really cool podcast to make, but how do I make it?”
  — Dennis ([07:33])

• On creative growing pains:
  “I tried my hardest to get out of hosting it…But there just wasn’t anyone else qualified to take it on. So it was honestly even kind of chance that I took on that role of hosting it. But it’s a choice that I’m thankful I made.”
  — Dennis ([10:09])

• On maintaining the human element:
  “If I’m going to go air out their dirty laundry…The least I could do is make a conscious effort to feel like I have an understanding of who that person was and give the audience that same idea…”
  — Dennis ([24:01])

• On creator vulnerability and self-care:
  “There was a breaking point…just the thought of everything kind of caught up and actually I had my first ever panic attack…thankfully, I’ve never had one since…”
  — Dennis ([13:27])

• On the mission of Culpable:
  “We’re not trying to go in there and point fingers at people. If somebody…is guilty and they get arrested during the show, that’s fine…But we’re just trying to make a difference in that case…Give a voice to the voiceless.”
  — Dennis ([36:26])

• On the future of the show:
  “For anybody concerned, like, oh no, Dennis will never be back with another long form season and it’s just this now, rest assured, it’s not…the future is going to be season three of Culpable…”
  — Dennis ([40:40])

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment & Topic | |-----------|----------------| | 00:33 | Dennis introduces the live setting and CrimeCon’s significance | | 02:30 | Initial impressions and atmosphere at CrimeCon 2024 | | 04:01 | Five year reflection and venue backstory | | 06:28 | Dennis’s pre-podcasting life and transition | | 07:33 | First contact with Christian’s family; emotional impact | | 10:09 | Decision to host and personal reluctance | | 11:56 | Series success and surprise at reaching #1 | | 13:27 | Mental health struggles and turning point after season one | | 16:56 | Introduction to Brittany Stykes’ case and start of season two | | 20:09 | Transition between cases; lessons learned | | 21:43 | Case selection process and personal connection | | 24:01 | Addressing criticism and storytelling philosophy | | 30:31 | Case Review series creation and format differences | | 33:47 | Defining which cases fit which episode formats | | 36:26 | Show’s core values and mission explained | | 40:40 | Season three teaser and the evolving franchise |

Closing Thoughts

This episode is a heartfelt look back at Culpable’s five-year journey: its beginnings as a passion project, the often unseen personal costs of true crime storytelling, and the evolution of its storytelling approach. Most importantly, the conversation reinforces Culpable’s founding mission—to bring attention, humanity, and hope to unresolved cases and to the families still searching for justice.

For listeners, the live, unfiltered dialogue between Dennis and John offers rare insights and honest reflections, providing a sense of the real people behind the podcast and the real stakes for the cases they cover.

For more, listen to previous episodes of Culpable or follow @culpablepodcast for updates on the new season.