About This Episode
Forhøret, a Danish podcast series produced by Podster, recreates real interrogations from Swedish criminal investigations using actors and expert commentary. The series has attracted over 170,000 downloads and streams, offering listeners an intimate look at police questioning techniques in high-profile cases.
The podcast takes a distinctive approach to true crime storytelling. Rather than relying on narration alone, Forhøret recreates interrogations verbatim and has professional actors perform the interviews as they originally occurred. Each episode supplements these dramatized interrogations with expert commentary examining the psychology behind questioning tactics, forensic evidence, and investigative techniques used in actual cases.
Podster, the Danish podcast publishing company that launched in 2022, produces the series. The company was founded by Henriette Høj Gharib, Klavs Vejlang, Lars Peter Ilsø Larsen, and Erik Hougaard. Forhøret is available across multiple streaming platforms, including Spotify, Storytel, Mofibo, and Listen Notes.
Two documented case series illustrate the podcast's approach. "Liget i Skærgården" (The Body in the Archipelago) examines a Swedish disappearance case from July 25, 2020, involving a person named Mikael. The series explores the interrogation of a key suspect named Leonard, who notably requested a new interrogation 97 days after Mikael's disappearance—a timeline detail that suggests potential developments in the investigation.
Another series, "Mordet på Carolin Stenvall" (The Murder of Carolin Stenvall), examines the September 12, 2008 disappearance of Carolin Stenvall. In this case, suspect Toni Alldén became a focus of the investigation after blood spots were discovered in his vehicle. DNA analysis confirmed the blood matched Carolin Stenvall. After 38 days of interrogation, Alldén confessed to meeting the victim at a location known as Stenbroen rest stop.
The podcast's creators have taken steps to balance transparency with sensitivity, altering certain names and episode details to protect the relatives and others involved in the cases. This approach allows the series to examine real investigative techniques and case details while maintaining ethical boundaries around the victims and their families.
Forhøret taps into a broader international audience interested in forensic psychology and criminal investigation methods. By focusing on the interrogation itself—rather than sensationalizing crimes—the podcast offers listeners insight into how police question suspects, how suspects respond under pressure, and how interrogation techniques can reveal truth or deception.
The format's success, evidenced by its substantial download numbers, suggests growing listener interest in procedural, investigative content that goes beyond traditional true crime narratives. The podcast allows audiences to form their own conclusions based on the actual questioning while benefiting from expert context about what they're hearing.
Sources: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/forh%C3%B8ret-podster-b9CrAZc-hTe/ https://mofibo.com/dk/podcasts/forh%C3%B8ret-133197 https://www.storytel.com/fr/podcasts/forh%C3%B8ret-133197/liget-i-sk%C3%A6rg%C3%A5rden-del-7-9190464 https://open.spotify.com/show/7hlxOcKQZgR3dY1vyGw1vh https://viborgbib.dk/artikler/digitalt/danske-true-crime-podcasts
