When Gillian Pensavalle and Patrick Hinds started recording their podcast “True Crime Obsessed” (TCO), they thought they were sharing their love of documentaries with people who enjoyed the same stories. What happened instead was the rise of one of the most influential voices in true crime.
Today, the podcast has passed 200 million downloads, recapping documentaries like “Love Has Won,” “The Jinx”, “Scamanda,” and “Class Action Park.” It has built a devoted community and carved out a space where compassion for victims guides every conversation.
With each recap, Pensavalle and Hinds prove that even the darkest stories can be told while prioritizing survivors, respecting grieving families, and finding humor in the absurd mistakes that surround cases.
Redefining True Crime Priorities
Since the launch of TCO, Pensavalle has seen the true crime genre make a noticeable shift. What once leaned heavily on sensationalism has moved more toward ethical storytelling, with a growing focus on compassion for the victims and families.
“We love this!” Pensavalle said of the change.
From the beginning, she and Hinds have designed the podcast to be victim-focused. This means that they refuse to cover a documentary if a family objects to it, ensuring that stories are told with respect for those most affected. By honoring families’ wishes, TCO avoids giving undue attention to perpetrators and instead focuses on giving survivors and grieving families a voice.
Humor has also become part of their signature style, even though neither host expected it to play such a role.
“We realized early on that we are both strong, passionate people,” Pensavalle explained. “Most of our humor comes out of that passion.”
Laughter is used to highlight failures and help the hosts make their points. They call out investigations that were mishandled, attorneys who underperformed, and crimes that were so horrific they can hardly be talked about.
“Because the subject matter is often so dark, we use humor as a way to tell these stories in a way that is digestible to both us and our audience,” they explained.
Still, it’s never directed at anyone who suffered. At the end of the day, the hosts understand that they are covering real-life cases and victims, and the responsibility to tell those stories with dignity and compassion never goes away.
Selecting Stories With Care
Every episode starts with the choice of which documentary to feature, and it’s a decision that’s never taken lightly. Pensavalle and Hinds are intentional about diversity, making an effort to highlight communities that often receive little mainstream coverage compared to other groups.
At the same time, they are responsive to their audience, taking listener requests to heart when deciding what to discuss.
“It’s a delicate balance, but we are committed to our mission of telling these stories and doing it with compassion and empathy,” the hosts said.
The Bond That Holds TCO Together
The TCO podcast thrives on the dynamic between Pensavalle and Hinds. One of their longest-running habits is preparing separately before recording, which keeps their conversations genuine and spontaneous.
“We never know what about the documentary or the case really stood out to the other, so our recording sessions are full of surprises,” the hosts said. “And this is always wonderful both for us and our listeners.”
Much of TCO’s appeal comes from the hosts themselves. Listeners are drawn to the back-and-forth between two friends who bring their own unique perspectives to the same case, making the discussion feel personal and unscripted.
Most of the time, Pensavalle and Hinds are aligned in how they see a case, but whenever their viewpoints differ, they make a point to listen closely and ensure the other feels heard.
“The success of our podcast has been built on our camaraderie, and we are committed to keeping that strong,” they said.
Fans Who Feel Like Family
As the show has grown, the listeners have become more than just an audience, but also active members in the creative process. Pensavalle and Hinds affectionately call them the TCO Fam.
Both hosts are receptive to feedback, whether it comes as praise or criticism, as long as it’s delivered with kindness. On more than one occasion, they’ve taken suggestions from listeners and used them to determine the show’s direction, making it feel like an ongoing conversation.
Fans feel well-connected to TCO, not only through the podcast itself but also across new platforms. The launch of their YouTube channel has given the community another space to gather, and its rapid growth shows just how invested the TCO Fam has become.
For Pensavalle and Hinds, this loyalty is a reminder to keep raising the bar. Although they consider the podcast a “well oiled machine,” they never want that to be the reason they start to stand still.
“We want to keep getting better at telling these stories,” they said. “We want to keep surprising each other. We want to keep finding new and exciting ways to connect with our listener
community.”
Beyond TCO: Pensavalle’s Expansive Portfolio
While TCO introduced Gillian Pensavalle to a massive audience, it is just one part of her creative life. In 2022, she hosted and produced “Let The Women Do the Work,” a limited series that amplified the voices of women in true crime whose stories often go unheard. The title came from the same phrase familiar to TCO fans.
Several years earlier, in 2016, Pensavalle launched “The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast,” which has become one of her longest-running projects. The show releases weekly episodes featuring cast members, musicians, and creatives tied to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit.
Over time, it has welcomed all four members of The Cabinet™, and Miranda himself has appeared twice. Pensavalle not only hosts the show but also serves as its creator, editor, and executive producer. It’s often described as her passion project and something she loves every second of.
Hinds isn’t the only creative partner she’s worked with. Together with her husband, Michael Paul Smith, she co-created, produced, and starred in “The Residuals,” a comedy series inspired by their experiences auditioning for commercials in New York City. She also produces Smith’s sketch comedy podcast “Ted and Michael Read Sketches into Microphones.”
In December 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pensavalle served as executive producer of “'Twas the Night.” This free holiday radio play raised money for The Actors Fund and brought joy to an otherwise gloomy season when live performances were shuttered and people were forced to stay home.
Born and raised in New York, she continues to live in Manhattan with Smith and their rescue dog, Fiona.
Continuing the Mission of Ethical Storytelling
Throughout her career, Pensavalle has held many titles — actor, voiceover artist, editor, show runner, producer, and on-camera host. Yet, out of everything she has done, podcasting remains the work she feels closest to, something she loves deeply and still finds remarkable to do every day.
With “True Crime Obsessed,” she and Hinds have made it clear that victims and survivors belong at the center of every story. Their mix of humor, compassion, and camaraderie has made TCO one of the most influential true crime podcasts in the world and continues to grow with every new episode.
Pensavalle sees the podcast’s independence as one of its most defining qualities. The show has always stayed in its own lane, even as she and Hinds admire the work of other creators.
They admire the work being done by fellow podcasters and enjoy collaborating with those who share their values. Pensavalle hopes this spirit of collaboration continues to grow so that the broader community can keep learning from one another.
For her, the goal is to advance ethical true crime storytelling that resonates with listeners, and the best way to achieve that is by working together.
