True Crime Garage: The Best of True Crime Garage 2025 ////// 896

Released: January 7, 2026 | Hosts: Nic (“The Colonel”) & The Captain

Episode Overview

Theme:
In this celebratory "best of" episode, Nic and the Captain review their top True Crime Garage episodes from 2025. With their signature banter and candor, they reflect on ten years of podcasting and break down their most memorable topics, why these episodes resonated with them and listeners, and what makes certain cases stick in the mind. This episode offers introspection on storytelling, audience feedback, and the evolving true crime landscape, all while inviting the community to share their own favorites.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Looking Back: Ten Years in the Garage

• 2025 marked a decade of True Crime Garage.
• The hosts express gratitude to listeners, both long-time and new.
• They note the podcast's evolution and the importance of occasional retrospective episodes.

[03:22] Nic: "It was the year 2025, the year when we celebrated 10 years of garage goodness... I don't think that this flying garage ship is going to slow down anytime soon."

2. Selecting the Top 3 Episodes from 2025

• Nic and Captain each compile their personal top three episodes/series from 2025, discussing their reasons and the lasting impact of each.
• Audience invited to submit their own favorites via social media.

[06:09] Captain: "Give us your top three... going back, I was like, man, you could make an argument that these are some of the best episodes we've ever done."

3. Nic’s #3 Pick: “Hate American Made” Six-Part Series

(April 2025)

• A deep dive into interconnected cases involving hate crimes, white supremacy, religious extremism, and domestic terrorism, all tied to American-born perpetrators.
• Focused episodes:
  • Ep. 1: Richard Wayne Snell (white supremacist)
  • Ep. 2: Ruby Ridge (Randy Weaver)
  • Ep. 3: David Koresh & Branch Davidians
  • Ep. 4: The Waco Siege
  • Ep. 5: Timothy McVeigh
  • Ep. 6: Oklahoma City Bombing
• Explores uncomfortable truths about domestic hate and historical cycles of political tension in the US.
• The hosts clarify their focus is always on the crime, not politics, and note the importance of confronting the dark sides of American history to avoid repetition.

[08:49] Nic: “It feels like we are just bombarded with so much politics... But I think that it's an opportunity, if we can see it for what it is, to realize we don't need a battle with each other because they, they won't, they won't battle for us, so we shouldn't battle for them.”

[13:27] Nic: “John Wayne Gacy was a Democrat, Ted Bundy was a Republican. That's why I'm an independent. ...This is a show for the people, right? And, and that's it. And we don't care where you stand, what side you're on.”

[16:46] Nic: “Every part of this is uncomfortable. Every part of this story is uncomfortable. You have white supremacy, you have gun control, you have religious freedoms, you have domestic terror... there was no way that this was not going to be met with that [mixed emotions]. And you know what? I'm glad that it was now in hindsight, I'm glad that it was because it was appropriate.”

[20:01] Nic: “Not just because they're connected, but it gave me the chance to analyze them, keeping that in mind... This is the dark side of history. This is the dark side of, of our American history. We can't shy away from it...”

4. Captain’s #3 Pick: “A Killer Halloween” Two-Part Special

(Episodes 880 & 881)

• A thematic two-parter highlighting infamous serial killers associated with different American cities—a kind of “dark road map.”
• Sparked by both Halloween’s horror movie ethos and recent true crime developments, including a new murder link to an already-covered killer.
• Created excitement for possibly revisiting the theme with new developments.

[25:59] Captain: "It also gave us an opportunity to discuss some killers that we've not covered yet. And we recently just... linked [one] to another murder many, many decades after the fact. So I... think we could revisit in the future because I enjoyed the research part of it..."

5. The Mechanics and Philosophy of Episode-Making

• The hosts reflect on the artistic, technical, and emotional challenges of producing the show.
• They discuss audience feedback—positive and negative—and their desire to continually improve.

[32:56] Nic: “...my only goal is to do a better job than last week. And every week, the same goal is to put together the best True Crime podcast episode that we possibly can in the amount of time that we have...”

[33:12] Captain: “…it’s a combination of many things… how interesting is that case? Are there twists and turns? … Did the music enhance the episode or did it hinder the episode? Was it embarrassing? … But that's life. And like you said, all we can do is to do the best we can and move forward.”

6. Nic’s #2 Pick: Yogurt Shop Murders Update

(September 2025, major breakthrough in the 1991 Austin case)

• A case that’s haunted both the hosts and the city of Austin for over 30 years.
• Four teenage girls were murdered; the case included false confessions, wrongful convictions, and public scrutiny.
• Solved via new DNA evidence connecting deceased serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers.
• The hosts commend the persistence of the Austin PD despite major investigative missteps, noting the importance of making the case “personal” for investigators.
• Both hosts express genuine relief and joy at the resolution.

[36:47] Captain: “When you see some of the stuff visually and you get to hear new details and hear stuff from the source, does it change the way you view a case...?”

[37:06] Nic: "...after more than 33 years, we finally got some closure in the infamous yogurt shop murders case..."

[39:35] Nic: “...while I had some difficulties with the outcome, I was so overjoyed that they finally had figured out who was responsible... This became personal for Austin PD, and when it becomes personal, there are going to be mistakes that are made... sometimes that's what you got to do..."

[41:47] Captain: "In these crime cases, with these detectives, they live with these cases for their whole lives, whether they're still working the case or not. It just sticks on them. And the fact that they can keep going over it and keep working it and finally get answers for the victims' families like that, it’s amazing..."

7. Captain’s #2 Pick / Nic’s #1: The Mindhunter Series

(Episodes 868–871, September 2025)

• Four-part series deconstructing the Netflix "Mindhunter" show, comparing TV drama with real crimes and FBI history.
• Deep research: fact-checking every element, even minor details like magazine covers and bookshelf Easter eggs.
• Features interviews/segments with true-life criminal profiling pioneers: John Douglas and Dr. Ann Burgess.
• Ann Burgess’s interview particularly praised for its depth and insight into victimology and post-offense behavior.
• Both hosts reminisce about their early interest in profiling and their pride at having established conversations with legends in the field.

[44:25] Nic: “The Mindhunter series that we did in 2025... was my favorite of 2025. Part of it was that I got the opportunity to go back and watch the first season again. The other part... was some of our accomplishments... When you get the opportunity to do a show with John Douglas, do a show with Ann Burgess, God bless it, Robert Ressler, I wish he was around...”

[46:11] Captain: “John Douglas is very hard to edit and Ann Burgess is very easy to edit. So it’s a polar spectrum, but both of them are fascinating listens.”

[48:46] Captain: “Easter egg. Yeah.”

[50:31] Captain: “On this list of the best of True Crime Garage 2025, we have two that are overlapping because my number one is the yogurt shop murders update episode... It was a joyous episode because you go, here's this case that's so old... you just wondered... were they ever going to solve it?”

8. Honorable Mentions & Reflections

• Both hosts mention other standout series and single-episode cases worth revisiting:
  • “God’s Misfits”
  • David Glenn Lewis
  • Ellen Greenberg
  • Killing for Chaos
  • The Missing Solder Children
  • “Killing was Purposeful” five-part series (May)
  • “Stolen: the Angie Houseman Story” (three parts)
  • The Park Bench Murders
  • Santa Rosa & Hitchhiking Murders (four parts)
• Acknowledgement of the ever-surprising nature of true crime.

[55:47] Nic: “I had a bunch of honorable mentions... Killing was Purposeful. Five part series. Back in May. Stolen—the Angie Houseman Story. A three-part series. The Park Bench Murders... The Santa Rosa murders, the Hitchhiking Murders... Killing for Chaos was a bizarre story.”

9. Favorite “Off the Record” Episodes

• Special praise for the Ann Burgess interview as an all-time favorite Off the Record episode.
• "Lifesavers" and the Brian Shaffer Update also cited as highlights.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On audience feedback:

• [32:56] Nic: "And you are always kind of hoping for the best, because you never know, will they? The large crowd of folks that we are so lucky to have listening feel the same way we felt about it. And you never know."

On their mission:

• [13:27] Nic: "This is a show for the people, right? And, and that's it. And we don't care where you stand, what side you're on."

On historical cycles:

• [08:49] Nic: "This is something that's happened regularly throughout the history of our country and many, many other countries. This isn't anything new. This is not the worst it's ever been. It, it just is what it is."

On personal impact:

• [41:47] Captain: "In these crime cases, with these detectives, they live with these cases for their whole lives, whether they're still working the case or not. It just sticks on them."

Episode Timeline

• [01:25] – Main Episode begins
• [03:22] – Ten years of TCG; thank yous; setting up the “best of” concept
• [05:24]-[09:57] – The philosophy of episode selection and favorites discussion begins
• [10:00]-[22:49] – Deep dive: “Hate American Made” series unpacked; reflections on politics/hate in true crime
• [22:49]-[25:59] – “Killer Halloween” two-parter; serial killer tour concept
• [31:02] – Top 3 countdown resumes after break
• [34:52]-[41:47] – Yogurt Shop Murders update explored; emotions over resolution and police perseverance
• [43:18]-[50:31] – “Mindhunter” series: research, method, and interviews with profiling pioneers
• [50:31]-[53:58] – Captain’s #1 is Yogurt Shop Murders update; both hosts share emotional response to long-awaited solve
• [55:47]-[58:05] – Honorable mentions and “Off the Record” episode favorites

Final Top 3 Lists

Nic’s Top Three (2025)

1. Mindhunter Series (Eps. 868–871)
2. Yogurt Shop Murders Update
3. Hate American Made (Six-Part Series)

Captain’s Top Three (2025)

1. Yogurt Shop Murders Update
2. Mindhunter Series
3. A Killer Halloween (Two-Part Series)

Closing Thoughts & Community Engagement

• The hosts encourage audience participation: “Tell us your favorite episodes of 2025.”
• Further case coverage and follow-ups are planned for 2026.
• Listeners are invited to support the show and Off the Record, and to connect on social media for the latest case and documentary news.

[59:39] Nick: “Be good, be kind, and don't litter.”