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Small City Dicks with Yeardley Smith


There’s definitely no scarcity of content material obtainable to true crime aficionados – between Dateline episodes, documentaries and podcasts there’s not sufficient time within the day to devour all of it – however, for those who’re searching for a deep dive into detective work, it is advisable add Small City Dicks to your streaming queue.

Small City Dicks is a true-crime podcast co-hosted by Yeardley Smith (the enduring voice of Lisa Simpson and star of the traditional movies The Legend of Billie Jean and Most Overdrive), an identical twin detectives Dan and Dave and acclaimed Chilly Case investigator, NYT best-selling creator, and true crime professional Paul Holes. Every week, the group take an in-depth have a look at a case from the detectives standpoint, talking with officers in addition to households of the victims to offer listeners with insights it’s possible you’ll not often get from different exhibits. 

The podcast, which is kicking off its 16th season on Friday, April 18, has received Adweek‘s 2022 Podcast of the 12 months Awards for Hosts of the 12 months, 3 Sign Awards in 2023 (together with Finest Co-Host Workforce, Particular person Episode: True Crime, and Finest Unique Content material + Experiences), and is at present nominated for the Individuals’s Selection Podcast Awards this yr within the True Crime class. 

We had the prospect to speak with Yeardley, Dan and Dave in regards to the present, touring and what followers can anticipate to listen to this season in our unique interview.

Small Town DicksSmall Town Dicks
Picture courtesy of Small City Dicks

 What was the inspiration between behind Small City Dicks? How did it come about? 

Yeardley: I’m married to Dan. We met in 2014 and didn’t stay in the identical state. Once I would go to him, Dave lived a block away and Dan would come over we might open a bottle of wine and they’d simply discuss their Wednesday. It was jaw dropping.

And, in 2017, podcasts have been type of coming on-line and we had the concept we may do a real crime podcast, however what can be completely different about it and what can be nice was all the tales instructed by the detectives who investigated them.  So actually, , I feel all of us thought like, oh seven folks and our mothers will pay attention. That’ll be nice – and now we’re at like 60 million downloads.

There was not quite a lot of technique in it. These are unimaginable tales and particularly so as a result of they’re coming from the supply versus, as an illustration, me retelling them as a lay particular person. However then my job was to ask any and all questions each in regards to the humanity of those individuals who do that very extraordinary and weird job and in addition clarifying questions like, what’s that acronym? Why do you do it this fashion? What about this process? That type of factor.

Why do you assume there may be such a fascination with true crime?

Yeardley: I feel it’s as a result of for so long as folks have been telling tales, folks need to know that if shit goes sideways, there’s different folks on the planet, in your group, who’re prepared to place the practice again on the monitor, so to talk.

So, no matter your relationship to regulation enforcement is, I’m fairly positive that if anyone breaks into your own home or you end up in actual hassle, the primary particular person you’re going to name is the cops. Even when on a day-to-day foundation you’re like, I don’t just like the cops, as a result of the understanding is that if the job is finished proper, that these folks will come and assist get justice for the victims.

Now Dave and Dan, you’re brothers, and also you’re each detectives. Is that this one thing you’ve all the time needed to do? How did you get into involved in detective work? 

Dan: Rising up I had cousins that have been firefighters, and I bear in mind once I was 4 or 5 years outdated, Dave and I have been down in Phoenix, Arizona, visiting my cousins, and we went right down to the fireplace station and so they acquired a name out and to see these guys with all their gear on, I simply thought it was the best factor and I simply idolized these guys who went out and confronted hazard.

And I feel for me after looking for my ft and discover which means I needed to go in my profession, I went on a trip together with a pal of mine who I went to varsity with – he was a Ok-9 officer – and inside 10 minutes we have been doing a code three run with lights and sirens by means of town and I mentioned, I’ve to do that.

Dave: Rising up, I needed to be a police officer. I feel I had the identical expertise as Dan down in Phoenix the place I checked out these firefighters and I used to be like, that appears actually cool and so they have superb gear and funky lights. I’m afraid of heights, so firefighting was by no means going to work for me. Dan acquired employed in 2005 by our former company, I acquired employed in 2007.

I used to be working as a administration marketing consultant in Washington, DC and I did a couple of trip alongs with Dan. I knew, type of like him inside the first 10 or quarter-hour of the primary trip alongside, I used to be like, that is what I’ve to do and that type of began the method to get me out of the consulting gig and over to regulation enforcement. And, as soon as I used to be employed as a police officer, I feel there’s some type of…I wouldn’t name them boring calls that you just get on patrol that don’t require a ton of mind exercise to unravel, however they’re actually like order upkeep and retaining town working effectively. That stuff was thrilling for slightly bit however you then begin determining that I actually need to get into the interview room with these guys which can be accused of horrible issues and determine who did it and ask why’d you do it? You realize, it’s the final word puzzle to attempt to remedy and there are nice stakes concerned for the victims getting justice and for the suspects avoiding going to jail for many years. It’s a excessive stakes recreation of can you work this out? And that type of problem actually appealed to me.

Now for each of you, what has been probably the most rewarding factor about your line of labor? 

Dan: I feel for me, whenever you’re on patrol, quite a lot of the calls you go on, it’s very transactional. Dispatch sends you to a name and also you attempt to resolve the issue. A whole lot of instances it’s a home dispute or a loud noise criticism, and it’s very transactional.

As soon as you permit the decision, it’s over. If you’re a detective, you get the preliminary report from a patrol officer and you’re taking that case from its infancy all over to conviction. Or, perhaps you don’t get a conviction, or perhaps the DA doesn’t file prices on it, however to see a case go all the way in which from A to Z is actually rewarding.

Dave: Yeah. And I feel for me, simply the caseload that I labored, little one abuse and sexual assault, was the payoff for me. I used to be on the finish, the decision, whenever you see a sufferer that will get to face as much as the person who wronged them, both in court docket or another method, which requires this dangerous man to go off and go to jail as a result of a sufferer stood up and mentioned, “I’m not doing this anymore. You don’t get to harm me like that.”

I feel the payoff that you just get outdoors the courtroom after a conviction. Particularly on a baby abuse case, there’s no feeling prefer it. I wouldn’t say it’s an adrenaline dump. It’s extra for the detective and the prosecutor. It’s extra aid, like I didn’t fail – as a result of whenever you fail in these circumstances, it’s not simply me going house and having a foul night time. It’s a sufferer who mainly is being instructed by the courts, we didn’t consider you. And that to see that’s actually horrible. So, the conviction actually was the payoff for me. It’s not the one factor, however actually it’s victims feeling like they have been represented and that dangerous man doesn’t get to harm folks anymore.

Small Town DicksSmall Town Dicks
Picture courtesy of Small City Dicks

How do you select what circumstances you’re going to cowl?

Yeardley:  A whole lot of it is determined by, clearly, the friends, however when Dan and Dave vet the friends and so they’re like, I don’t know what to speak about, as a result of oftentimes you’ll hear circumstances that aren’t the nationwide information, which is among the appeals I consider our podcast is that we’re not rehashing BTK once more. I feel there’s all the time a spot for that, particularly when you have a specialty in a type of, , like offender conduct type of issues. However there’s additionally a spot for the big-time crime that’s taking place in small cities in every single place, proper?

And so, we all the time say to the detective give us the case that’s most significant to you, or most memorable. It doesn’t must be the one which was probably the most sensational on your company that made the press. That was, it’s what’s the one that you just’ll always remember? What’s the one which sticks with you and why?

Is tright here a case that sticks to both of you probably the most out of all of the circumstances you’ve coated?

Yeardley: It’s like asking me “what’s your favourite Simpsons episode?”

Dan: I type of categorize the circumstances that we profile on our podcast. There are circumstances that imply lots to me and that I can put myself again in a scenario and bear in mind the smells and the sounds that I used to be experiencing throughout that case. Then you might have different classes, something that Paul Holes talks about. I’m riveted.  The person is an encyclopedia. He tells an awesome story and he’s only a good man and I like these circumstances.

After which, , this different class is we get to fulfill so many individuals from completely different components of the world. We’ve had detectives from Eire, Scotland, England, Australia and Canada and to listen to the similarities – as a result of you consider the variations of all these nations, however there’s so many similarities in how regulation enforcement operates regardless of the place you might be on the planet.

You latterly took the present on the highway. What was that have like – going from a studio to going out in entrance of audiences? 

Dave: I’ll say for folks like Yeardley whose house is on the stage and below the brilliant lights, she definitely mentored me by means of my stage fright and the nervousness and the sweaty arms.

It was actually unnerving. However I feel whenever you’re up there with folks you belief, like Dan and Yeardley and Paul and the remainder of our workers. We’ve got only a nice workers of people who I do know are all the time going to care for us. So, I feel that half type of settled me nevertheless it’s simply completely different being on a stage, telling tales whenever you don’t come from an entertainer’s background. I feel for me, it was actually eye-opening, it was enjoyable however slightly bit nerve wracking at instances, however general it was an awesome expertise. 

Yeardley:  You guys have been nice. They have been actually nice. And the audiences, it was very fascinating. We did 4 cities and every metropolis was very completely different by way of the tone of the viewers. We went from actually type of very convivial, nearly raucous in Portland to very reserved in Salt Lake Metropolis.  I’d say they neither of these polarities have been any much less attentive, , each viewers has its personal character and so they feed off their very own vitality in addition to ours.

I’d say the true problem, I feel all the time for a performer and for these guys. Paul is a bit more well-versed by way of talking in entrance of huge crowds as a result of he’s accomplished quite a lot of lectures and stuff like that. However Dan and Dave even have additionally accomplished numerous group lectures too.

However the hardest factor, I feel – talking for myself, is that if the viewers is quiet. You’re telling a narrative and also you’re anticipating some type of verbal response, one thing that you may key off of and also you don’t get it. You don’t need to sink into some type of backdoor narrative like, oh shit, they don’t like me. This isn’t going properly. Oh my God, I’m screwing up. That may be a hundred % most likely not true. My motto is whether or not you’re performing in entrance of 5 folks or 5,000, your job is similar. Inform the story in one of the best ways you understand how to and belief that you’ve got this since you do.

And these guys have been nice. They have been cash. The viewers completely liked it. We might have a meet and greet afterward. They have been all offered out. Individuals stayed and stayed and I used to be actually comfortable to see that they acquired to be showered with the love of the followers in a means that I’m extra accustomed to and isn’t as common for them.

Are you planning on doing extra excursions sooner or later with the present? 

Yeardley: I don’t know. TBD. I’d say it’s arduous sufficient to get 4 folks to agree on the place to have dinner on any given night time. To get all 4 of us on a stage for even every week shouldn’t be simple.

We’re going to Crime Con once more in September. I feel it’s September fifth this yr and that can be our third – which is nice. The followers there are nice, after all. It’s, once more, it’s type of a captive viewers. However we haven’t mentioned sure or no to a different tour but.

What are you hoping that folks take away from listening to Small City Dicks?

Dave: I can say for me personally, I feel simply providing listeners an alternate image of what’s taking place with cops and detectives and simply exhibiting what it really means to regulation enforcement after they get a case and they’re advocating for a sufferer and attempting to get a case prosecuted and tried. I feel simply to indicate what that requires from an investigative standpoint. 

Yeardley does a extremely good job of pulling the humanity out of our visitor detectives. We make jokes like Yeardley goes to make you cry for those who come on our present and inform a narrative as a result of she’s going to get a pair layers deeper than you’re used to with cops being like, the way you doing, man?

So, I feel that’s the profit. We attain folks on a degree they most likely don’t anticipate from regulation enforcement. That’s been rewarding for us, exhibiting a special aspect than is portrayed within the media and within the films. 

Dan: And simply so as to add on to that, when Dave and I began this podcast…we’re not entertainers and podcasts are leisure. I feel Dave and I approached this mission that we have been taking over as we now have a chance to teach folks. Once I current a case, I need to educate folks on what was occurring and all of the steps I took to attempt to remedy the issue and if I used to be fascinated about being an entertainer, I don’t assume it could come off properly.

Yeardley: However I additionally assume it’s actually an fascinating distinction since you’re proper, podcasts are thought-about leisure and we even stroll a really tremendous line of not exploiting the horrible experiences that these folks, that Dan and Dave and our different friends are speaking about, proper?

If you’re speaking in regards to the victims, which is why we all the time depart it as much as the detective, however we received’t inform you the place the crime occurred. We’ll change all of the names. We’ll type of blur relationships. We’ll add siblings. We’ll say it’s an aunt, not a mom, type of stuff like that. In order that we strive to not re-traumatize the sufferer.

The sufferer is clearly important, however what we’re doing on this podcast is providing you with a really behind the scenes have a look at what it took for all the dominoes to line up completely to ensure that justice to be served. It’s such it’s such a tenuous course of.

As Dan and Dave mentioned earlier, perhaps you collect probably the most extraordinary proof and nonetheless your DA doesn’t file. On the finish of the day, you’re nonetheless coping with human beings and regardless of how devoted they’re to the job, everyone could have a sense and a response to the factor that they’re doing, and also you hope that you’re coping with a system by and huge that’s type of” simply the info, ma’am”, and “I care about you as a result of the factor that occurred to you is incorrect”, but when God forbid anyone had been assaulted by their very own uncle and there’s not sufficient proof to convict this one that’s on the docket, and also you’re like, properly, fuck it. My uncle assaulted me and he was by no means caught. So now I’m going to convey the hammer down on this particular person.

You need to be sure that there’s a separation between the non-public and the skilled.  It’s such a tremendous line although, and these guys do it so superbly, and that’s once I assume the system works greatest, ?

What are you able to inform me in regards to the new season?

Yeardley: Our new season drops on the 18th of April. Season 16. It’s actually implausible. We really begin out with a two-parter by from Paul Holes, which is nice. You realize, it’s arduous to get the A group, the OGs to convey us a case anymore. We actually have rung them out, actually. Like, come on, yet another. However we even have an awesome season. We even have Matt Murphy, who, for those who watch any true crime on television, Matt is the previous Orange County DA, Murder DA. He does quite a lot of widespread session or, or type of evaluation on ABC Information. He’s terrific. He brings us a few circumstances. We’ve got outdated and new friends. I’m very, very comfortable about this season. I’m the final set of ears that listens to every episode. I’m the final edit move, so I’m fairly acquainted and I feel we’ve set the bar very excessive. We purpose to proceed to the touch the bar, so I feel we’ll be alright this season.

Season 16 of Small City Dicks premieres on Friday, April 18. The present is offered to stream on Spotify,Apple PodcastsSmallTownDicks.com, and wherever else you wish to pay attention. Observe the present on Instagram (and observe Yeardley, Dan, Dave and Paul too.)

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