Culpable
True crime podcast review — 2026
"Culpable tells the story of a family who refused to let Australia forget a gay man murdered in a hate crime — Hamish MacDonald's investigation helped finally get them the truth."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries
- ✓Fans of Australian true crime and its unique landscape and culture
Pros
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
About this podcast
Australian journalist Hamish MacDonald investigates the 1988 death of Scott Johnson — a gay American mathematician whose body was found at the base of cliffs in New South Wales, initially ruled an accidental fall, then suicide, then linked to a pattern of gay hate crimes in the area. A story of institutional cover-up and delayed justice over decades.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1 — start from the beginning
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Culpable
What is Culpable about?
Australian journalist Hamish MacDonald investigates the 1988 death of Scott Johnson — a gay American mathematician whose body was found at the base of cliffs in New South Wales, initially ruled an accidental fall, then suicide, then linked to a pattern of gay hate crimes in the area. A story of institutional cover-up and delayed justice over decades.
Is Culpable worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". The community has rated it 8.0/10 overall. True crime fans interested in LGBTQ+ rights history, institutional cover-up, and cold cases that required decades of advocacy to resolve; listeners who want crime understood in its full social and political context.
Who is Culpable for?
Culpable is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries; Fans of Australian true crime and its unique landscape and culture.
What is the best episode of Culpable to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1 — start from the beginning. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
What podcasts are similar to Culpable?
If you enjoy Culpable, you might also like: Bear Brook, In the Dark, The Teacher's Pet, A Million Other Choices. See our full "Podcasts Like Culpable" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Investigative, serious, sobering
- Episode length
- Multiple episodes; bingeable across a weekend
- Country
- Australia
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Region
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