Culpable
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"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
- ✓Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode
- ✓Fans of Australian true crime and its unique landscape and culture
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +High binge factor — listeners consistently come back for more
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between 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". It scores 8/10 on binge factor. 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; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode; 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.
Where can I listen to Culpable?
Culpable is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Culpable?
If you enjoy Culpable, you might also like: Bear Brook, In the Dark, The Teacher's Pet, The Thing About Pam. 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
- Binge factor
- 8/10
- Country
- Australia
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