Bear Brook artwork

True Crime · NHPR

Bear Brook

by NHPR

Bear Brook, hosted by Jason Moon, is the critically-acclaimed true crime podcast from New Hampshire Public Radio. Season 1 - Two barrels. Four Bodies. And a cold case that’s changing how murders will be investigated forever. Season 2: A True Crime Story - Jason Carroll is serving life in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit. The only evidence against him? His own taped confession. More than 30 years later, is it possible to get to the truth – and who gets to tell it? Stephen King called both seasons “the best true crime podcasts I've ever heard. Brilliant, involving, hypnotic.” The New Yorker said season one “stands out for its ambition, complexity, and thoughtful tone.”

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Trailer | Bear Brook Season 3: A Private Matter

A Christmas tree farmer with dementia disappears. His wife never reports him missing. Can anyone find out why?A Private Matter is the third season of Bear Brook, the crit

Sep 23
3 min

Introducing: Safe to Drink

Introducing “Safe to Drink:” A New Hampshire town finds out its water has been contaminated by a chemical. The most basic question — whether the water is safe to drink —

Feb 12
33 min

S1, Ep. 11 | Update: The Middle Child

Investigators make a discovery that brings the case of the Bear Brook murders to a close after 40 years – and reveals a new mystery. Click here to check out more podcast

Sep 9 2025
49 min

S2, Ep. 9 | Update: The Reversal

The state of New Hampshire has made a sudden about-face: Prosecutors have now agreed to DNA test old evidence in Jason Carroll’s case. It’s the biggest development in the

Apr 22 2024
32 min

S2, Ep. 8 | The Box

The true crime media spotlight shines on Jason Carroll. Then, a chance encounter leads to a surprising discovery that changes the course of his case. For more on the cas

Apr 10 2023
52 min

S2, Ep. 7 | This Side of the Line

How could someone possibly confess to murder if they didn’t do it? A modern understanding of confessions sheds new light on Jason Carroll’s case. For more on the case an

Apr 3 2023
58 min

S2, Ep. 6 | ‘Don’t Roll the Dice’

Jason Carroll stands trial twice – and the juries come up with their own versions of what happened. Bear Brook is made by NHPR, a public radio station. Recent funding cu

Mar 27 2023
58 min

S2, Ep. 5 | Trial in a Trial

A new true crime story is told and when juries hear it, it leads to different results for all three defendants. During the first trial, the lead detective makes a big mis

Mar 20 2023
51 min

S2, Ep. 4 | ‘Promises Have Been Made’

One set of confessions leads to another and three men are arrested for Sharon Johnson’s murder. Then, an alleged secret comes to light that changes everything. For more

Mar 13 2023
49 min

S2, Ep. 3 | The Breaking Point

Police interrogate a second teenager named Jason Carroll – with help from Jason’s own mother. Bear Brook is made by NHPR, a public radio station. Recent funding cuts hav

Mar 6 2023
55 min

S2, Ep. 2 | The Pursuit

We begin with the story police told about Sharon Johnson’s murder. The veteran detective on the case develops a theory involving her husband and a teenager. A surprising

Feb 27 2023
45 min

S2, Ep. 1 | Extraordinary

Sharon Johnson’s family and friends have spent the last 35 years coping with her brutal murder. But what if that story was based on a lie? Bear Brook is made by NHPR, a

Feb 20 2023
43 min

Trailer | Bear Brook Season 2: A True Crime Story

Jason Carroll is serving life in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit. The only evidence against him? His own taped confession. More than 30 years later, is it po

Jan 23 2023
5 min

S1, Ep. 10 | The In-Between

A clue is found buried on an internet message board. DNA is wrestled from rootless hair. Two investigators work parallel leads, and authorities call a press conference.

Jun 7 2019
42 min

S1, Ep. 9 | Update 2: Eric Rasmussen

A son remembers his father, and searches for clues in his military paperwork. A conversation with one of Terry Rasmussen's surviving children. Bear Brook is made by NHPR

Feb 13 2019
23 min

S1, Ep. 8 | Update: Ripple Effects

This is the first short update in the story of the Bear Brook murders that we’ll be producing to let listeners know about any breaking news in the case.  Bear Brook is m

Nov 15 2018
12 min

S1, Ep. 7 | Chameleon

The case that was solved in reverse leaves many questions unanswered. New methods of inquiry are used to crack other cold cases. Do groundbreaking techniques come at the

Nov 7 2018
1 h 04 min

S1, Ep. 6 | Bloodline: Part 2

This is part two of episode 5. A child is abandoned. Timelines come together. A family tree begins to take shape. A chameleon is revealed.  Want to make sure that NHPR c

Oct 31 2018
27 min

S1, Ep. 5 | Bloodline: Part 1

A child is abandoned. Timelines come together. A family tree begins to take shape. A chameleon is revealed.  Bear Brook is made by NHPR, a public radio station. Recent f

Oct 31 2018
44 min

S1, Ep. 4 | Eunsoon Jun

An ominous New Year’s party introduction. An estranged cousin goes missing. Police question a man with multiple identities. A search leads authorities to his basement. W

Oct 24 2018
49 min

Chart trend

Position in the True Crime chart (US), last 90 days.

#6
all-time peak
7
days in the top 10 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Bear Brook ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 23, 2026).

#73 ▼ 4 True Crime US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

many of the recordings are so poor that they are not useful to the narrative since you cannot understand what anyone is saying. either summarize in your own words or just read from the transcript. the poor sound quality actually aggravates my misophonia. some of these recordings go on and on for what seems an eternity but may only be two minutes, if that. these recordings short shrift the show and public radio's integrity. please, please fix, so others' ears don't bleed.

bellina f · Aug 2026

Season 1 is excellent, but unfortunately Season 2 is just too slow and stretched out. S2 would’ve been much more compelling if shortened by about two episodes worth of time. When you’re putting the inane banter of a carload of podcasters into an actual episode, I’m sorry but you’re in need of an editor! And apologizing for “getting meta” doesn’t excuse it. That’s valuable time that should’ve been spent looking into the odds of there being not just one false confession in a given case, but two (as with this one).

Fionn MacCumhaill · Apr 2026

This podcast was assigned to me for class, and I turned out to love it and be totally invested! I loved the twists and turns! Mr Moon does a great job at using all of these rhetorical questions and strategies to keep me wanting more. Thank you!!

CozyKoala361 · Apr 2026

This was the first “true crime” podcast I ever listened to, and it totally changed my life. The investigation and journalism is so incredible and I think about this case all the time. The story telling is exquisite and the team are extremely respectful to the victims& families. Literally the gold standard for true crime podcasts. Wish NHPR did more

ZRRidley · Mar 2026

It seems like I may be the only one with this opinion but this was so incredibly long and borderline boring for no reason, listened to all of Season 2 for 8 hours and I feel like Casefile could have told the entire story in 3 hours max. The content was interesting overall the pace is sooooo slow!

Kenna724 · Apr 2026

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About Bear Brook on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Bear Brook, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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