Podcast
American Nightmares
Hosted by Gamut Podcast Network · EN
Every headline hides a deeper story. American Nightmares pulls you into the most unsettling true crime cases—one season, one case at a time. These are the crimes that kept detectives awake, shattered families, and left entire communities on edge.Told through raw interviews, gripping investigative detail, and cinematic storytelling, each season reveals how these nightmares unfolded—and the long road to uncovering the truth. You may think you know the story. You don’t.
Season 6 - The Canal Murders
In the early 1990s, a serial killer stalked the canals of Phoenix, Arizona — a violent psychopath whose grisly methods chillingly echoed the macabre signature of Jack the Ripper. Two brutal homicides. A city gripped by fear. And a killer who hid in plain sight for decades while Arizona's most infamous cold case went unsolved. Now, host Brian Peter Falk is determined to get to the bottom of this twisted tale, digging deep into the evidence, the victims, and the secrets buried beneath the surface. Solving two murders is just the beginning — because the deeper you go, the darker it gets.
Season 5 - Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult
It looked like a quiet small-town neighborhood, defined by manicured lawns and flower gardens. But behind the façade, more than a hundred residents were part of the Zion Society, a secretive cult that hoarded weapons and groomed children for sexual abuse under the control of an unassuming, soft-spoken leader. When a young woman escaped and went to authorities, the truth finally began to unravel.
Season 4 - 22 Hours: A Second Look
Host Megan Cloherty returns for a new season of American Nightmares. In the upcoming season, we revisit the story that launched the series: a D.C. power couple, their 10-year-old son, and their housekeeper—held hostage for nearly 24 hours before being murdered inside their own home. Now, 10 years after the crime and 6 years since we first told the story, Season 1 returns with all-new content, fresh interviews, and exclusive updates that shed new light on a case that still resonates today.
Season 3 - Unknown Subject
For nearly a decade, he crept in the shadows, attacking women in the middle of the night — and then vanished. The 1998 murder of a brilliant scientist near Georgetown University marked a terrifying escalation. Investigators had DNA linking him to multiple crimes, but for years, he had no name — only the label “Unknown Subject.” This season uncovers the chilling case of the Potomac River Rapist, and the patrol cop who finally cracked it.
Season 2 - Murder in a Safe Place
In a quiet hospital just outside Washington, D.C., a 50-year-old nurse named Sherry Crandell was raped and murdered inside her workplace — a place that was supposed to be safe. With DNA, fingerprints, and even a witness to the crime, police had evidence — but no su...
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Introducing The Canal Murders - Season 6 of American Nightmares COMING SOON
3d ago00:01:53Summary readyComing soon to the American Nightmares award winning podcast feed.In the early 1990s, a serial killer hunted the canals of Phoenix, Arizona. A violent psychopath. Two grisly homicides. Methods so disturbing they drew comparisons to Jack the Ripper himself.For decades, the killer hid in plain sight — evading justice, living in a twisted world of fantasy, while Arizona's most infamous cold case grew cold. Investigators searched for answers. Families searched for closure. Neither found what they were looking for.Until now.Host Brian Peter Falk gets you closer to this chilling investigation Unraveling the threads of a case that shook a city, Brian goes beyond the headlines to uncover the dark truths that have remained buried for over thirty years. But as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear — solving two murders is only the beginning.How deep does this story really go? The truth lies below the surface.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Summary
You Might Also Like: Deep Cover: The Family Man from Pushkin
2w ago00:37:14Summary readyDeep Cover is a true crime show about double lives, from our friends at Pushkin Industries. Their new season, The Family Man, is a story about how families can deceive each other and the lengths we’ll go to to protect our loved ones. Elise and Marissa grew up in a seemingly normal house in the suburbs of St. Louis, but it was a house built on secrets. There were things their father never told them—like how he really made his money. One night, the police showed up, raided their house, and seized boxes of evidence. Hours later, the sisters turned on the TV and saw something surreal: their father in the middle of a police chase. The local news identified him as “The Boonie Hat Bandit”. The girls were stunned. They struggled to accept the truth: Dad had been living a double life. How long had he been lying to them? What had he done? And who, exactly, was their father? Find Deep Cover: The Family Man wherever you get podcasts. If you want to know how the story ends right now, binge the full season by signing up for a Pushkin+ subscriptions on the Deep Cover show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Summary
CLOSER LOOK, E3 - Understanding The Why and How
Apr 1400:47:07Summary readyFollowing the story of Zion, survivors share the moments, memories, and manipulation that couldn’t be fully captured the first time. Jackie and Ron reflect on the turning point that led them to leave, as Arvin Shreve’s behavior grew increasingly disturbing.Through deeply personal accounts, survivors reveal how fear, control, and religious rhetoric were used to strip away identity and maintain power within the group. Andrea and Amber speak to the lasting emotional impact—from the trauma inflicted on children to the psychological scars that linger into adulthood.Centered on survivor voices, A Closer Look continues to add depth and perspective to the story of Zion—offering validation, understanding, and resources for those navigating similar experiences.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryCLOSER LOOK, E2 - When Memories Return And Puzzles Are Solved
Apr 700:56:21Summary readyWhat happens when you return to the place where it all began?In Episode 2 of Gardens of Evil – A Closer Look Inside The Garden, hosted by Mike King, survivors revisit the neighborhoods where their childhoods were shaped, and where trauma still lingers beneath the surface.As memories resurface, experts help explain why trauma doesn’t follow a linear path. Dr. Judy Ho breaks down how abuse disrupts memory, leaving survivors with fragmented and emotional recall, while Dr. Patrice Berry explores the critical role of validation, empathy, and safe support systems in the healing process.For the first time, we also hear from the partners of survivors... those who stand beside them in the aftermath. Rocky and David share what it means to support someone you love through trauma, without judgment, and without trying to “fix” what can’t be undone.This episode is about memory, resilience, and the quiet power of being believed—and what it takes to begin healing when the past is still present.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryCLOSER LOOK, E1 - Get Over It, Kids are Resilient
Mar 3100:50:20Summary readyAfter the events of Gardens of Evil, the story doesn’t end for the survivors.In the first episode of our bonus series A Closer Look, we examine the lasting psychological impact of growing up inside the Zion Society cult. Survivors describe a childhood defined by constant monitoring, shame, and control—where even a child’s body weight was tied to spiritual worthiness.Host Mike King speaks with survivors about the lifelong effects of coercive control: broken trust, complicated family relationships, and the challenges of parenting after trauma. Cult expert and sociologist Dr. Janja Lalich also joins the conversation to explain how cult recruitment works, why people stay, and why it can take decades for survivors to rebuild their lives.This episode is dedicated to victims of child abuse, to those who escaped destructive mind control, and to the advocates who fight every day to protect children.If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse, help is available. Support your local Children’s Advocacy Center and organizations that serve survivors.Use code NIGHTMARES at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase. #JonesRoadBeauty #adSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryComing Next Week - Gardens of Evil: A Closer Look
Mar 2400:01:40Summary readyStarting March 31st, Gardens of Evil – A Closer Look Inside The Garden, hosted by Mike King. will go beyond the headlines to explore what happens after survival, diving deeper into the hidden impact of coercive control, child abuse, and life inside the Zion Society cult. Hear never before released footage and powerful conversations with survivors, experts and people who lived the investigation and take take down of the Zion Society. These episodes will uncover the lasting psychological toll of growing up in a world where control was absolute—and what it takes to rebuild a life afterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryS5 E7 - Standing Tall
Mar 1701:03:52Summary readyArvin, Carla and others see their day in court, but was justice served? Most of the Zion Society children are either uncooperative or unable to testify. Mike King and Reed Richards do everything they can to avoid re-traumatizing those who do testify. Finally, our story ends 35 years later, as several of the survivors meet at the opening of a new Children’s Justice Center in Ogden. They learn how their experiences have changed laws to better protect child victims and find healing together.Use code NIGHTMARES at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase. #JonesRoadBeauty #adSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryS5 E6 - Tell Me Everything
Mar 1000:55:52Summary readyThe media descends on Northwood. The Zion Society children are interviewed, but many refuse to cooperate. Mike King gets a surprise call from Cedar City.Use code NIGHTMARES at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase. #JonesRoadBeauty #adSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryS5 E5 - Deliver Us From Evil
Mar 300:56:55Summary readySeventy Ogden police officers gather in the dark and move into Northwood at dawn, hitting multiple Zion Society homes at the exact same moment. The plan is simple on paper and terrifying in practice: secure the children, secure the evidence, and arrest the “head of the snake.” Inside the spotless houses and perfectly manicured yards, investigators find signs of a militant system built on control—hidden portals, stockpiles, meticulously organized drawers of lingerie, and evidence meant to corroborate witness accounts of sexual exploitation.Social workers rush the children into protective custody, but the emotional reality is more complicated than the outside world expects: some of the kids don’t experience the raid as a rescue at all. And just as the case seems to crack open, one urgent question threatens everything that comes next—where is Arvin Shreeve?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryS5 E4 - The Buyer
Feb 2400:53:37Summary readyJeff Peterson has spent years trying to pull his kids out of the Zion Society - until the cult’s hunger for money creates an opening. When his ex-wife Carla asks for help selling the group’s lingerie line, “Sweet Things,” Jeff hires a private investigator to pose as a Las Vegas buyer and go undercover inside Northwood.What she captures on camera changes everything. But there’s a catch: Jeff’s custody deal comes with a vow of silence - until Detective Mike King’s investigation collides with Jeff’s case, freeing him to talk. With corroboration in hand and the clock ticking, Mike prepares to raid the quiet neighborhood at dawn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Summary