{"podcast":{"title":"Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast","slug":"foul-play-a-historical-true-crime-podcast-51278","podcast_index_feed_id":51278,"rss_url":"https://feeds.redcircle.com/4cf5f57c-0bea-454e-8dc3-f263c362d278","website_url":"https://redcircle.com/shows/foulplay","image_url":"https://media.redcircle.com/images/2026/2/16/21/cbfd1140-ea5b-4393-97e9-8f2f9ac2f953_00-main-artwork-original.jpg","author":"Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins","episode_count":315,"summary":"Foggy gaslit streets. A quiet courtroom. And crimes that history tried to bury. Foul Play is a historical true crime podcast that investigates the most chilling murder cases from the 1800s and early 1900s across the United States and the United Kingdom. Hosted by investigative crime journalists Shane Waters — who pioneered crime podcasting in 2008 — and Wendy Cee, each season unravels one complete criminal case through original research, court records, and primary source material. This isn't sensationalized true crime. Every season of Foul Play puts victims first — their names, their stories, their humanity — before examining how murder investigations unfolded in an era before modern forensics, when justice was far from guaranteed. From Victorian poisoners in London to Gilded Age killers in America, Foul Play brings historical true crime to life with cinematic storytelling and relentless accuracy. Every fact is verified. Every claim is sourced. Every story is told with the gravity it deserves. New seasons of this historical true crime podcast release throughout the year, with episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays. Hello, friend. Welcome to Foul Play.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/foul-play-a-historical-true-crime-podcast-51278"},"episode":{"title":"Staffordshire: The Rugeley Poisoner's First Victim","slug":"staffordshire-the-rugeley-poisoner-s-first-victim","published_at":"2026-02-10T18:04:46+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/foul-play-a-historical-true-crime-podcast-51278/staffordshire-the-rugeley-poisoner-s-first-victim","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/foul-play-a-historical-true-crime-podcast-51278","url":"http://mythsandmalice.com","audio_url":"https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/4e746849-83ae-42c7-a8ca-bbea2f6b7511/stream.mp3","summary":"In the fog-laden lanes of Victorian Staffordshire, William Palmer found his first victim, igniting a path of sinister intent that would crown him the notorious Rugeley Poisoner. Season 38 of Foul Play delves deep into the life and crimes of William Palmer, unraveling the chilling narrative from his humble beginnings to the peak of his criminal exploits. Long before William Palmer was branded a murderer, he was a doctor known for his charisma and skill in horse racing circles. He was a family man in a seemingly picturesque town. However, beneath this facade lurked a fervent gambler whose debts began to wrap around him tighter than a noose. This era, marked by Victorian values and advances, had a grim undercurrent of greed and deception. Palmer's affinity for opiates as tools of murder was not just a personal vice but a reflection of a society enamored with quick fixes. In this opening episode, we explore Palmer’s descent into murder, beginning with his first victim, whose death set into motion a series of tragic events cloaked in toxic intent. The corridors of power in Victorian England turned a blind eye to many such crimes, yet the ripples of Palmer’s actions forced them to open their eyes. As we dissect his first victim’s fall, understand how a peculiar autopsy would reveal too much. The series is as much about the victims as the perpetrator, capturing the essence of lives ended too soon. Journey with us from a genteel existence to an atmosphere of dread as we follow Palmer's cunning maneuvers, hear witness accounts, and unravel the medical perspectives. Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy &…","meta_description":"In the fog-laden lanes of Victorian Staffordshire, William Palmer found his first victim, igniting a path of sinister intent that would crown him the noto…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1330,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/foul-play-a-historical-true-crime-podcast-51278/episodes/staffordshire-the-rugeley-poisoner-s-first-victim/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/foul-play-a-historical-true-crime-podcast-51278/staffordshire-the-rugeley-poisoner-s-first-victim.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}