Probably the best true crime show out there.

I’ve been binging these and the show truly evolves and gets better with each episode. Season 11 is great! I love how in-depth TZ goes.

Season 11 is amazing. All your work is good, enjoy it all, but season 11 man. Just awesome. Would love to hear you do the Grant Amato case now.

I stumbled upon this podcast while listening to another. At first it was ok but as I kept listening it became better and better! Next thing I know, I’m hooked! I love the narrator’s voice: creepy, strange, & sexy all at the same time! I appreciate the time he takes to tell the story; I really like that. Some podcasters rush over parts and pieces and you get lost. Not this podcaster! Very detailed. Well done! I’ve also shared the podcast on my social media feed and shared via my phone.

I just spent 3 days packing for a move while listening to this podcast non stop, I get bored with most podcasts and switch to another one half way through the episode, but I just couldn’t stop listening to this one, well done!

I appreciate the sensitivity towards victims & their families that you convey. Your storytelling is intriguing and the unique format of how you unfold event keeps me on edge! Keep up the wonderful independent work!!!

I was all in until it got political! If you’re gonna bring up politics, you should bring up both sides of an argument. i’m moving on to a real true crime podcast.

I listen to many podcasts. Yours is so good that I decided to become one of your Patreon members. This is a first!! Thank you very much for extremely good analysis, articulating the stories and drawing in the listening audience in a powerful way! Respectfully Dave M

My favorite true crime pod <3

This was just an incredible podcast that kept you wondering the entire time. I enjoyed listening to hours, and hours of a story well told. First person interviews and jail house calls that were included at the end of each episode. I hope there is follow up episodes about Cat, the girlfriend and the arraignment and trial. Excellent job.

I haven’t had a true crime podcast come across as respectfully as it does with TZ. He clearly has so much empathy and respect for everyone involved in a case and encourages his listeners to put their judgements aside and reflect on each situation. I am sad that I binge-listened through everything so quickly, but will eagerly wait for more as he truly is a gem!

This is probably one of the best podcasts I’ve came across in a while

The research and details about this tragedy of Otto’s treatment in N. Korea are fascinating and horrific. However, the excessive use of news clips (fair use ?) and Otto’s news conference confession made fast forward my only option to get through this podcast. I’ll try season 2 since the author said it was his favorite.

I am so glad I came across it. It’s so in depth and well researched. I love it!!

My perfect true crime podcast has lots of audio clips, (actual audio clips, i.e. interrogations, cop cams, 911 calls, etc.) a bit if narrating but not too much, and a healthy respect for the victims. Keep up the good work!

Tapes from the Darkside is like listening to a really well done, excellently researched documentary. TZ adds just enough thoughtful commentary and has a great voice to listen to. Love it.

TZ does an excellent job deep-diving into some truly disturbing cases. His presentation and analysis of primary source material is captivating. Since main episodes are presented in single narration format there is no off-topic banter and episodes focus solely on the case.

Okay, so it took me a while to find where to leave a review but I am finally here. I can’t remember exactly how I found this show…it might have been a recommendation from another podcast, a Google search, or a random Spotify recommendation. All I know is I am glad I found it. The information on the podcast and the delivery is top notch. I always look forward to the new episodes when they pop up! Keep up the good work! Glad I found your podcast!

I love this podcast! The pace is great for me and the stories are dark but intriguing. TZ does an amazing job researching and presenting the story in a compelling way.

Tapes from the Dark Side is magnificently crafted with suburb story telling and top notch production value! Subscribe to the premium feed and you will not be disappointed! I listen to quite a few podcasts and this little gem is a favorite!

I acknowledge how difficult it is to create podcasts. And while I really enjoy the overall production, it’s frustrating that TFTD takes between 2-3 weeks to release new episodes (at least in the current season investigating Chandler Halderson)… and then doesn’t re-cap the previous episode. The result of this is I spend the first few crucial minutes of each new episode trying to remember what I learned in the last one. Since churning eps out quicker will likely only hurt the show’s quality, adding in a short “previously on…” would help tremendously. Thanks!

Really interesting cases, extremely well presented and in a strait forward but thoughtful way. My personal issue that is unfortunately really getting in the way of giving this 5 stars is how slow the host speaks. That with music playing at the same time makes it hard to hear what’s being said. Also I experienced what felt like a lot of music interruptions that go on to long when I just want to keep following the story. I’m not saying no music but for me it’s too much. I already think the way the stories are told is creative so the atmospheric haunting/beatnik jazz thing is distracting. I know I have strong opinions and if others are enjoying it just the way it is I think that’s great. I’m still going to keep listening because it’s very compelling and I need to keep listening so that’s a good sign. Hope you took this constructively:-)

I’ve been listening since the beginning and it’s just getting better. Loved the Otto Warmbier episodes. The research, production and overall vibe makes this one of the top independent true crime podcasts imo.

I loved the first 5 episodes of this intriguing event. I was so excited to wrap it up with the last episode. I should have known…just like many other sneaky podcasts, payment is required. I’m so put off and so upset I wasted my time.

It’s a good podcast. Lots of useful information but overboard with sound effects and white guilt in season 2. Otherwise it’s good

Enjoyed Tori4fun episodes! Eleanor’s parents are not divorced so I would not research that further. Also, her fathers name, Eppa, is not pronounced correctly, but I still loved the podcast! Thank you for researching!

Novel premise and POV. Topical and relevant!

This podcast is a new favorite for me. I am so impressed with the research, the storytelling, and absolutely love TZ’s style of presenting each case. I don’t get hooked on new podcasts easily, but this one grabbed me right away. I’ve been recommending it to friends who also love true crime, and they are all loving it too. Highly recommend listening!

I’m so thankful for your empathic narrative, your honesty - your emotional intelligence is incredible. It restored some of my faith in humanity. I’m going to pray for you, man. And as crazy as it sounds I’m going to pray for that Eleanor, her victims and her family. I don’t have the words for her so all I can pray is that God reaches into the blackest depths of her soul. This world is so very dark but somehow you manage to tell these horrible stories with such compassion. I’m proud of you! I was in tears after your last subscription episode - I was straight up sobbing. I’m not one to cry but just hearing you talk about how much you want to cultivate care for others really cut through the ice in my heart. I do believe you have a calling. Thank you for sharing your perspective. There are pastors that cannot deliver a message of love the way you did in that last episode.

Great pod, stories & narration by T.Z. Listening to Tori4fun wasn’t smooth tho….way too many bleeps made it sorta disjointed. Why the silences🧐

TZ does such an amazing job in in telling this fabulous podcast. He’s very thoughtful of the victim(s) and their family & friends. This podcast is very informative, well written, and delivered with great depth and insight.

Great content from an amazing host!

TZ is an amazing host and has a very insightful way of presenting information. He is able to get to the heart of the issues and find ways to meaningfully discuss them. I highly recommend this show!

I usually start (& unsubscribe) from shows so fast in this genre that it needs a new category: True Crum. That’s why I was deeply hesitant to start TFDS even though it’s been in my queue for a while, but, with summer here and content consumed…I held my breath and hit play… At first, TZ’s slow paced voice made me think this was another Nina Innstead deal where I would have to listen on 1.25x to deal but THEN! I was startled by the head snapping yet refreshing change of pace of included audio including historical recordings, insightful commentary and tasteful, well placed music. This wasn’t going to be another drone fest nor is it full of snark or one sided criticism. I have just finished Season 2 and can’t say enough good things about the depth of the stories, the interesting and thorough coverage while remaining on task is often overlooked by many creators trying to churn out content but not on Tapes From the Dark Side. It’s never predictable and never ever boring - THANK YOU for a truly entertaining show!

It’s garbage for word scrambling in a story about child s@“?#%€ abuse. If you can listen to a story like this then a few words like “sexual” shouldn’t be a big deal!

I actually went to middle school with TZ and we used to swap Stephen King books in the 6th grade! This pod is truly compelling - a completely different feeling than anything I’ve found elsewhere, with a superior production quality, care for detail & an appropriately somber mood that still allows the listener to revel in unraveling a story without feeling exploitative. Started with S1 E1 & plan to keep going for the duration. Way to go T :) -Isabella Y

Definitely enjoyed this show so far. I have adhd so sometimes the seasons are a bit too long but some are shorter and I am still able to skip to what I want to hear. I like the soundtrack they have in this show as well! I appreciate the podcaster who does their best to highlight the victim which doesn’t always happen in most true crime podcast. They actually take time to make sure people know how great those victims are.

I love the podcast. Well written, very well presented and I look forward to new episodes. BUT. The volume level is not high enough to hear it while driving my reasonably new pickup truck at full phone volume, full radio volume and full Bluetooth volume to make out what is being said. This is an issue with so many podcasts. I also used bone conduction headphones and same problem. If I’m doing work outside it’s a waste of time to try and listen.

I hear enough about politics from the other idiotic democrats. I listen to this podcast for true crime stories.

Edit: 5/19/23: it’s a little outre for me. Unsubscribing after season two. I heard about this podcast in a Reddit thread on r/True Crime so I decided to try it out. I was hooked by the first episode; initially it was the host’s voice that reeled me in, but it was the amazing research that went into this that set the hook. Also, the interlude music is amazing. It’s hip/ trippy and fits perfectly with this show.

I’m blown away. Excellent content and presentation. I’m an avid podcast listener and support several. Having discovered this podcast, if I could only support one podcast- it would be this one. Thank you for critical, intelligent and interesting content.

Amazing!

There are a lot of true crime podcasts but TZ adds a bit of social justice to the story. Not just for voyeurs. You will learn something here AND be mesmerized! Great voice, great quality podcast!

I came across TZ when he did a short story on the My Bloody Valentines show that included 14 different podcasters. TZ stood out to me and I enjoyed his voice and the way he told a story. I just finished the heartbreaking series about Dylan Redwine. I never cried when listening to a podcast (and I’ve heard it all) but the way TZ told the story of Dylan affected me in a way no other podcaster has. I can’t wait to listen to more.

Dear creator, thank you. I am only on episode 2 of season 5! I’m going to finish and go to season 1 not listening to anything else until I have heard all five seasons. Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you for doing something that should have been done MANY YEARS AGO. You have to wonder how many people lost their spouse, parent, brother, sister, CHILD due to TRIGGER HAPPY ,IGNORANT, UNSTABLE people getting a power trip and taking ANYONE they believe they have the the authority to take on the trip with them. This creator WILL SOON BE on the top of the charts if you keep making podcasts like this one. Again …. Thank you!

I just finished Season 5 about the death of Daniel Shaver and I highly recommend this podcast. It’s a very important story about how police are trained to use critical force and the role of police in society.

I found that this podcast was recommended in a podcast post. So I had a few minutes to spare. Began with Season 1. The host (s) have perfect volume and pleasant sounding voices. Well researched and presented in a flowing fashion, it’s wonderful for all of us who want to know every aspect of the crime!! Your very loyal fans want to hear more interesting cases !!

Very well-researched with an informed, human approach. TZ provides concise and insightful perspectives. The seasons are exactly as long as they need to be, depending on the story. Other podcasts tend to add a lot of fluff episodes to get 20 pods out of the season. Not this one. There’s nowhere else I want to listen to real life, distributing tales of murder and delusion from the dark side.

I absolutely love this podcast. The detail and research that goes into each episode is remarkable and I gladly support and recommend this. Each season has been excellent and I look forward to hearing about the Daniel Shaver case. I heard about this a couple of years ago and saw the police footage which made me sick and then outraged. We need to hold officers accountable when they murder civilians. Period. I hope that Daniel gets justice. Thank you for bringing light to this case and giving it a voice and thank you to the LEOs that protect and serve everyday and support reform.

I heard about this from True Consequences and listened to the psychopath phone call from the recent episodes then listened to the Spirit family massacre, then the Dylan Redwine season and now I’m on the Jesse Washington Waco season episode 2. I love the host- I wish I could get the bonus content (I’m not sure why we have to pay for better audio quality?) but I can’t afford to get patreon for every podcast I love! I definitely recommend this for the research, quality, straightforward delivery of the story without any banter, etc (I am ok with banter on certain pods) it’s a great format and different than other pods! Thanks for the content.