Cold Red Podcast - Podcast Rankings and reviews

In this true crime podcast space, I discovered years ago that I prefer to listen to the experts, I.e., former law enforcement people, that actually worked in solving crimes. As former profilers having studied in the FBI, Ray and Jim are these professionals with thousands of cases of experience between them. Their insight is based on years of experience and not just thoughts of a lay-person. Most importantly, they honor the victims, their families and friends and make the victims the focus in discussion. You are very much appreciated and thank you for a job well done.

Was excited when I learned Fritz had a new podcast as I respected his contributions on so many other podcasts. After listening to several episodes I’m perplexed by the consistent audio popping and blotchy hard edits making it frustrating to listen to. Made more frustrating is the subject matter and guests are interesting and would ordinarily make for a 5-star episode. I took several measures to check that the audio issues weren’t my specific device and haven’t heard the popping noises on any other podcasts. The very choppy hard audio edits in the beginning and middle of statements make the content disjointed. As a listener I wonder what context was chopped out and why.

In terms of interview style, perhaps a better prepared outline for the hosts would help keep the story progressing and prevent backtracking over earlier topics in a timeline. I found myself skipping forward to get back to the point of the story after the hosts many “real quick” detour to interject histrionic details about customs and traditions that added minimal value to the overall context of the interview. I appreciate there can be value in setting the scene for the culture and environment at play during a particular timeframe. However, that becomes reductive when interjected too frequently and interrupts a guest providing a summary overview of a specific case.

Plenty of potential for this to be a 5-star podcast. Primarily fix the audio popping and hard choppy edits. Secondary, work on outlining and organizing the story to introduce the guest, provide some background of their career trajectory, and then focus on the case at hand. We don’t need to know how a future detective or investigator did on their physical fitness exams as a young law enforcement recruit.

I love your show and I’ve given it 5 stars BUT I really dislike that you misstate facts. Rebecca Shaffer was shot not stabbed. It’s was Elizabeth Smart that was kidnapped in Utah. I don’t expect you to keep all this in your memory, but if I can so can you! Keep up the good show. I love hearing the details of a real FBI agent’s daily work!

Love this podcast. As someone who closely listens to criminal story podcasts, I find its credibility second to none. Keep them coming!

I had heard Jim Fitzgerald on numerous podcasts over several years and was impressed with his experience, his expertise in forensic linguistics, storytelling skills, down-to-earth delivery combined with depth. I was not familiar with Ray Carr but assumed if he was co-hosting Cold Red and had a highly respected career in the FBI, he would be engaging, interesting, and insightful. The podcast was promoted as “riveting”. I looked forward to it!

Some episodes were interesting but I found the co-hosts delivery to be anything but naturally conversational or engaging. I kept hoping for improvement once they were up and running for a while. Sometimes they even seemed ill prepared. There overwhelming rah rah for the FBI and police got old fast. I have respect for both, and both organizations screw up, make mistakes and sometimes behave egregiously. Additionally, sometimes Fitz’s ego went into overdrive and he drowned out Ray. Despite these negatives, I really wanted this podcast to live up to expectations, so I stuck with it.

Lack of preparedness with some guests (or disinterest? disrespect? lack of sleep?) made their comments, follow-ups, and questions almost painful to listen to. I finally gave up after Season 3, February 26, 2024 episode with Tom Simon, former FBI agent in forensic accounting. This interview could have been so interesting! Mr. Simon tried to take their inane one-word responses and multiple examples of poor listening in a more intelligent and curious direction. He threw them some bones in an effort to expand the conversation without making them look like dullards.

I had to hit stop. I’m done with Cold Red.