Kaleidoscope, a leading science and technology podcast network, and iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac, have launched America's Crime Lab, a gripping new podcast created in partnership with Othram, a U.S.-based forensic technology company that helps law enforcement solve violent crimes and identify unknown victims. Hosted by former clinical psychologist Dr. Elin Lantz Lesser, America's Crime Lab takes listeners behind the scenes of groundbreaking investigations, revealing how scientists, detectives, victim advocates, and families work together to uncover the truth and bring long-awaited answers to those left in the dark.
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America's Crime Lab is a riveting documentary series that blends cutting-edge science with emotional storytelling, tracing real cases from mystery to resolution. The series centers on the work of Othram, a lab that has solved more cases using forensic genealogy than any other organization, across the United States and internationally. This includes everything from decades-old cases to current-day investigations, such as the identification of Bryan Kohberger, who recently confessed to the 2022 murders of four Idaho college students. The podcast offers a powerful look at how modern science is transforming the pursuit of justice.
The show is hosted by Elin Lantz Lesser, Ph.D., a Minneapolis-based producer, former clinical psychologist, and host of the award-winning podcast The Turning. With a background in academic research and years of therapeutic practice, Lesser brings analytical depth and empathy to each story she tells.
"There are a lot of true crime shows out there, but this one is different," said Elin Lantz Lesser. "We're at a turning point in the science of solving crime, and this series offers a rare look inside a lab that's changing everything. The pace of breakthroughs is accelerating and that makes these stories even more surprising, emotional, and unforgettable."
America's Crime Lab is the latest addition to Kaleidoscope and iHeartPodcasts' growing slate of acclaimed shows, joining their flagship show "TechStuff" with hosts Oz Woloshyn and Karah Preiss; "Levittown," a deepfake AI true crime series in collaboration with Bloomberg; "Part-Time Genius" hosted by Mangesh Hattikudur and Will Pearson; "Kill Switch" hosted by Emmy-winning journalist Dexter Thomas; and "On Musk With Walter Isaacson" among others. With "America's Crime Lab," Kaleidoscope continues expanding its mission to spotlight today's most compelling, urgent, and important topics in science and technology.
"America's Crime Lab is exactly the sort of high-impact storytelling we strive for at Kaleidoscope," said Mangesh Hattikudur, Co-founder of Kaleidoscope. "The show lives at the intersection of science, technology, and humanity, and Elin Lantz Lesser brings rare sensitivity and investigative depth to this series."
"Some of the most powerful stories are those that give voice to the long unheard," said Oz Woloshyn, Co-founder of Kaleidoscope. "America's Crime Lab shows how science and technology can deliver justice, even decades later. We're grateful to iHeartMedia and Othram for helping us share these stories with the care they deserve."
"With the right tools, every case, current or cold, can be solved," said David Mittelman, Othram CEO. "We're on a mission to make those tools available to everyone, everywhere, and America's Crime Lab is part of that mission. We're thrilled to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the science driving these breakthroughs and the profound impact it has on investigators and families searching for answers."
Press release by Othram