International Stage

True crime remains one of the most powerful engines of international podcast growth — but what exactly makes audiences around the world lean in? This panel brings together three international creators whose wildly different approaches demonstrate the remarkable range within the genre, and how diverse storytelling styles can generate millions of listens and break out beyond their home markets.

John Sweetman, host of Lines of Enquiry, brings the rare perspective of a former forensic detective in Ireland turned audio investigator. His storytelling is rooted in procedure, evidence, and the realities of law enforcement. Audiences have flocked to these forensically detailed narratives shaped by years inside real‑world criminal investigations.

In sharp contrast, Camilla Bjerregaard Aurvig from Denmark’s hit podcast Mørkeland (Dark Land) approaches crime from a narrative and conversational angle — weaving conversations with her podcasting partner Kristine Sofie Buchbee with psychology, culture, and the moral tension that makes the genre so compelling. Despite the huge success, the pair have remained largely anonymous, putting the focus on the victims and the listeners. They have placed their listeners at the core of the podcast responding meticulously to messages and stories.  Camilla rarely participates in panels but she has a love for London having lived here.

Adding a third dimension is Collette McGonigle, Clyde 1 News Editor,  journalism lecturer and part of the team behind ‘Beware Book’ podcast. Her work blends journalism with longform narrative craft, bringing a newsroom’s discipline into the ‑truecrime‑ space. The Beware Book explores the warnings sex workers shared about their most dangerous clients in a tattered journal called the Beware Book and seeks answers to why eight women died between 1991 and 2005, and explores four unsolved cases.

Together, these three creators will unpack how true crime captures imaginations across borders, cultures, and listening habits — and why audiences are only growing more fascinated. 

Key Questions & Topics the Panel Will Explore 

·        Why True Crime Travels  : The universal emotional drivers behind the genre: justice, fear, empathy, mystery.

·        The Power of Perspective : How John’s procedural, police‑informed approach differs from Camile’s talk‑driven conversational style — and why both attract global followings. How Collette’s journalistic investigations adapt complex cases for a broad audience.

·        Ethics in True Crime (A Global Conversation)  : How creators balance storytelling with respect for victims and communities. The rising demand for responsible true crime and “victim‑first” narratives.

·        Production Style, Format, and Their Impact on Audience Reach : How different formats create unexpected intimacy, loyalty and authenticity. The complexity of dealing with legal issues and family / friends. 

·        The International Marketplace : Trends in cross‑border collaborations, adaptations, and rights sales.

·        The Future of True Crime  : The shift toward solutions‑based and justice‑focused storytelling. How technology, archival access, and audience interactivity are shaping the next generation of true crime podcasts. Difficulties in generating revenue via true crime.