Alone, without an audience and with doubts. This is how Clara Tiscar (Barcelona, 47 years old) started the criminopathy podcast in 2021. “My dream was always to make a living through writing. And he did, but he wrote a lot of shit. “Be careful what you dream about,” I told myself. “I was running a writing class at the time – I write crime novels – and I thought one way to promote the books was to create a true crime podcast,” he recalls. In the tenth week of broadcast, his show, in which he tells and analyzes real murders, made it into the top ten most listened to on Spotify. Over time, the number has continued to rise: “Criminopathy” is in its fourth season, now produced by Podium Podcast, and not only continues to set listening records; It was praised by platforms and listeners as the “true crime reveal of the year.”
Questions. What do you attribute your success to?
Answer. I think I showed up at the perfect time. And then, I don't know, my suggestion is always the same in the end: tell a story, something gruesome, because they are real crimes, with a lot of information: the documentary is like a bottomless pit, I spend hours on it and hours on it is never enough. I have a huge list of cases and am trying to find them that are different.
Q How is it organized?
R. I classify them by geographical areas and genres. The list never ends. So much crime can create a bit of a bad mood; as if it wasn't okay to talk about misfortunes that happen to people. However, I don't think I'm talking about accidents: accidents happen, I'm telling how the murderer is discovered, how the police work, how we counter violence with science and secret services.
Q Serial murders, kidnappings, sexual assaults… Some victims complain either of reliving the trauma or of exploitation.
R. I am aware that there is a very sensitive human side to all of these stories. I am very careful: in the end, the victims and their families deserve everything. I try not to make it entertainment or fun; definitely disclosure.
Q Why do we like crime?
R. They are exciting and at the same time real stories that lead to a higher level of empathy (be it with parents looking for a child, with a woman who has been attacked, or with worried neighbors). In addition, it has twists, tensions and a certain morbidity. On the other hand, you will learn about: science, psychology, ballistics, technology, geography, politics… I publish a lot of this information on the blog. With every case I learn something about people. Additionally, I believe women have a common fear that something will happen to us. We don't stop feeling it when we listen to a podcast – it's not like we learn to defend ourselves, because that's something that's out of a victim's hands – but I think we do when we listen a kind of experiencing emotional catharsis; like a cleanse, a way to get it out.
Q Do you dream of the crimes you recount?
R. I once dreamed that my partner killed someone. He assured me that it was an accident and said to me: “You know about it, help me think about it.” I told him that it couldn't be possible, that they would discover it either by GPS, by cell phone or otherwise. That it was better to tell the truth. From everything I have read and studied, I believe there is no perfect crime. No way. The perfect crime is that which is not recognized as such.
Q Sometimes she deals with “cold cases” that took place years ago and is critical of police work.
R. The truth is that I now understand the work of the police better and can better put myself in their shoes. When considering an old case, special care must be taken with regard to the time and what is now known. In some cases, this does not protect against misconduct. I remember the Grindr murderer in London: police were slow to connect the dots between the deaths of several gay boys in the capital, and the underlying cause was homophobia. Sexual minorities are a victim profile that is rarely talked about: there are many cases of murderers who kill homosexuals unnoticed. Just as everyone already understands that women suffer more violence; Greater visibility must be demanded for victims of sexual minorities and migrants. I think they are silenced victims.
Q Was it easier to kill before?
R. I think so. There is a brutal scientific-technological leap: now we do fingerprints, DNA, information from cell phones… We live with objects like cars that record when a trunk is opened, how many people are in the car, or whether the seat belts are fastened . Even refrigerators now collect data.
Q His greeting on the podcast – when he says, “Hello, criminopathic” – has become a reference for his followers, could you please?
R. [Risas] I am aware that I say the greeting in a certain way. But it's natural: it happened that way from the beginning and that's how it stayed. When I'm too excited, I talk too fast and I don't like it. That's why sometimes, just before recording, I put on Pink Floyd to relax.
Q How much do you write for each chapter?
R. My goal is to write 7,000 words, which is about 40 minutes, but I do what the story asks me to do. At the moment I have more than 170 chapters of which I am publishing openly [dos entregas al mes en Spotify] and that of the fan club [dos raciones más, solo para socios].
Get the TV newsletter
All the latest news from broadcasters and platforms, with interviews, news and analyses, as well as recommendations and reviews from our journalists
LOG IN
Limited time special offer
Subscribe to continue reading
Read without limits
_