Meet the Voices Behind this New True Crime Podcast
Two North East-based crime scene investigators and disaster response consultants have launched a true crime podcast with a CSI twist
Angela Davies and Dionne Watson met at Teesside University in 2005, where they were studying for degrees in Crime Scene Science. After graduation, they both went on to work for Northumbria Police as Crime Scene Investigators, where they attended and examined all crime types. ‘We left the police in 2012 and started our business CSI Training and Events Ltd,’ says Angela. ‘Our business is award winning and we have been running it for 13 years. During this time, we have developed and delivered training and events to a multitude of audiences, across a number of sectors, both nationally and internationally. In addition, we are also Mass Disaster response consultants, having deployed to a number of international air disasters, including MH17, AH5017 and ET302.’
The podcast has been in the pipeline for a number of years. ‘We started plotting a few years ago, but we had been so busy with other projects (such as our forensic awareness app, Crime Scene Assistant) that it kept getting placed on the back burner,’ says Dionne. ‘However, this is something we thoroughly enjoy and are passionate about. We both love crime scene and forensic investigation and sharing our experiences with others, something we have been doing for years through our training and events, and this seemed like the logical next step and perfect medium to do just that.’
The Crime Scene Insiders is a true crime podcast with a CSI twist. ‘Our aim is to take people under the barrier tape,’ says Dionne. Together they cover historic cases, cases they’ve worked on, and current cases, looking at them from a practitioner's perspective. ‘In addition to episodes with the two of us, we are also inviting guests onto the podcast from a large range of forensic disciplines, bringing so much experience to one place,’ adds Dionne, ‘as well as talking to victims and families, letting them tell their own stories.’
It’s no secret that true crime hold real fascination for many people. ‘[True] crime is full of mystery, intrigue, and investigation,’ says Angela. ‘It’s about solving puzzles and problem solving, and it keeps you guessing. It's mystery with real-world stakes. Unlike fiction, true crime is unpredictable and messy, which makes it more gripping. There’s no guaranteed ending, no neat resolution… just real human drama. Also, people are often fascinated by the “why”. People want to understand what makes someone commit a crime. Is it nature? Nurture? Something in the brain? It’s part psychology, part puzzle. Plus, a lot of people like to be armchair sleuths and whilst many people are fascinated by it, not a lot of people get to go under the barrier tape and see the realities, and that’s what we will deliver.'
The duo are excited about what’s next for the podcast and are hoping it will be a hit with true crime fanatics and practitioners alike. They have already recorded with other ex-crime scene investigators, a US death investigator, an ex-covert forensics expert and the family of Samantha Madgin from Wallsend, who was just 18 when she was murdered. ‘Our guest list is long, due to our extensive network after 20 years working in the field of forensics, so we are excited to talk to people from all forensic disciplines, sharing the realities as we go,’ says Dionne. ‘We are both nervous and excited because a lot of people know us, however not a lot of people know us like this.
‘We decided from the off that we would be authentically ourselves, be brutally honest and hard hitting. We’re also not shying away from some of the more difficult topics of conversation, and who knows how we, and that, will be received. We are also very new to this, so we hope people stick with us whilst we hone our craft.’
‘It’s always nerve wracking when you put yourself out there,’ Angela adds. ‘We are making ourselves vulnerable and being entirely ourselves. And of course, you want people to listen and for it to succeed, but who knows where this will take us? What we can say is regardless, we are having a lot of fun, as we have since we started the business 13 years ago, and hopefully that shines through!’
