Hard Times and True Crimes: a historical true crime podcast

April 2, 2025

98. The Doctor's Wife: A Searcy, Arkansas Murder Story

In 1974, the quiet town of Searcy, Arkansas, was shaken by the shocking murder of Fern Rodgers, the wife of local physician Dr. Porter Rodgers. What seemed like a tragic crime soon unraveled as more information came to light that implicated not one, not two, but three suspects. If you love Southern true crime, mysteries, and small-town scandals, this episode is for you! #truecrime #ArkansasMurders #SearcyArkansas #SouthernGothic

March 26, 2025

97. Blood in the Quarter: The 1927 Louisiana Trunk Murders

March 19, 2025

96. A True Crime Mystery Solved: The Murders of Aundria Bowman and Kathleen Doyle

March 12, 2025

95.Caril Ann Fugate: Hostage or Accomplice? The Truth Behind the Starkweather Murder Spree

March 5, 2025

94.Sean Patrick Goble: The Serial Killer Truck Driver

🔎 Episode Summary: Truck stops, open highways, and a killer hiding in plain sight—Sean Patrick Goble was a long-haul trucker with a dark secret. 🚚💀 In the early 1990s, Goble crisscrossed the country, using his job as a cover to prey on vulnerable women leading to multiple murders. But what led to his capture? And could there be more victims authorities have yet to uncover? 🤔 In this episode of Hard Times and True Crimes, we dive into the chilling case of Sean Goble, the trucker-turned-serial-killer whose crimes spanned Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina in the 1990s. We’ll explore his known victims, the investigation that brought him down. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How Goble used his trucking job to target victims ✅ The details of his known crimes and how authorities linked him to multiple murders ✅ The forensic evidence that led to his arrest 🔬 ✅ The theories surrounding additional potential victims

Feb. 26, 2025

93. The Gaffney Strangler: Murder, Mystery and Sweet Potato Pone in South Carolina

Episode Summary: In this episode of Hard Times & True Crimes, we take you back to Gaffney, South Carolina, a small Southern town known for its peaches, its mill-town roots… and one of the most chilling murder sprees in state history. Between 1967 and 1968, the community was terrorized by a man who became known as The Gaffney Strangler—Lee Roy Martin. Martin preyed on girls and young women, leaving behind a trail of fear and devastation. But his capture? That’s a Southern story all on its own. And today, we’re not just telling you the story of the man who held an entire town hostage in fear—we’re also diving into a classic Southern dish that’s as much a part of Gaffney’s history as this dark chapter.

Feb. 19, 2025

92. Blood in Birmingham: The 1983 True Crime Murder of Kathleen Bedsole by David Duren

In this episode, we revisit the dark case of Kathleen Bedsole's murder in 1983, a crime that shook the communities surrounding Birmingham, Alabama to their core. We delve into the disturbed mind of David Duren, the man accused of the brutal killing, and unravel the events that led to one of the most infamous true crime stories in the region.

Feb. 14, 2025

91.Love Lost: The Valentine’s Day Murders of Jesse McBane & Patricia Mann in Durham, North Carolina

Feb. 5, 2025

90. Deadly Connection: The 2006 Chatroom Murder

In this episode of Hard Times and True Crimes, we dive into a chilling case that highlights the dark side of online interactions. In the early 2000s, an internet chatroom became the setting for a deadly deception - what started as a seemingly harmless online friendship between marine_sniper and talhotblonde, turned into a love triangle that ended in murder. We'll explore how a web of lies, manipulation, and hidden identities led to a fatal encounter. Join us as we break down the timeline of events, discuss the key players, and examine how the anonymity of the internet played a dangerous role in this real-life tragedy. Could this crime have been prevented? And what does it reveal about the risks of online relationships?

Jan. 28, 2025

89. Murder at Muddy Creek: The Ida Ball Warren Case in Winston Salem, North Carolina

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Recent Blog Posts

Aug. 14, 2024

The Tragedy of The Donner Party

On our latest episode we tell about a tragic event in the history of westward expansion. The Donner Party, named for brothers George and Jacob Donner, and included the James Reed family, made some vital mistakes as they took their families across th…

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Reviews

Lawson family

"Just listened to episode 1. I am a NC native, but had never heard this story before, and I did not know there was a town in NC named "Lawsonville". I am very curious about the song. I am glad you …"

Gary Gaskins | Dec. 23, 2022

Great for the Commute

"I have really enjoyed listening to the Hard Times and True Crimes podcasts on my drives to and from work. I occasionally have to take a detour to give an episode time to finish! I really appreciate…"

Ricky Allred | May 15, 2023

Great true crime podcast

"I just found these two wonderful ladies a couple days ago and I am HOOKED!!! Keep doing a great job ladies!! I absolutely love you podcast"

ellarias mama | June 20, 2023

Hard Times and True Crimes

"You’re uncovering buried stories of hardships and crime reminding us how they often go together. If history is forgotten it will surely be repeated. Ambition and death are alike. Neither one is ever …"

Christinme! | July 9, 2023

So interesting.

"I really love how they tell these stories, to each other and bring us listener in. I'm hooked and now a big fan .can't wait for the next episode"

Timmy | Aug. 6, 2023

Loving It!

"I am enjoying listening to these true crime stories. I have not really listened to podcasts until now. Keep up the great work!"

Fivepowells | July 14, 2024

Excellent stories and presentations.

"I’ve listen to parts of podcasts on YouTube. Never subscribed until now. I’m from Forsyth county. I enjoyed the most recent story about the death of a young woman and execution of her killer in Winst…"

Jim Canter | Aug. 2, 2024

Just an NC girl, living in a True Crime World

"I LOVE this podcast. As a born and bto toar Heel girl, hearing the cases that took place here really pull me in and I feel like I am there. I love hearing the cases from surrounding states as well, i…"

Dancepink09 | Feb. 6, 2025

Mayberry's Dark Day: The 1951 Mt. Airy Bombing

"I really enjoyed this episode. I thought that I knew a lot of the history of Mount Airy, North Carolina. But, I was not aware of this story. I downloaded it to keep with all of my many own memories/s…"

Scott'sLaptop | Jan. 23, 2025

Amazing True Crime Podcast!

"As a lifelong NC girl, it warms my heart to see some fellow NC ladies create such an amazing true crime podcast. I get so excited when I see new episodes based in north carolina. Top notch story t…"

Michelle | Feb. 14, 2025

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