About This Episode
Martin Hylander has built something unusual in the crowded true crime podcast landscape: a show that treats Scandinavian criminal cases with the gravity and narrative depth typically reserved for major documentary productions. True Story, available across Apple Podcasts, Podimo, Podcast Republic, and Podchaser, has amassed over 5 million listens by combining meticulous research with compelling storytelling.
The podcast focuses on Danish and international criminal cases drawn from the real world. Hylander, who serves as producer, researcher, and narrator, presents each episode as a retellings of actual crimes as documented in other media. Where discretion warrants, some names are changed and details omitted—a thoughtful approach that respects the sensitivity surrounding real victims and their families.
The breadth of cases covered demonstrates Hylander's investigative scope. The podcast has examined the Dennis Nilsen murders, including victims John Howlett, Graham Allen, and Steven Sinclair in connection with his Cranley Gardens location. Domestically, True Story has investigated the 1995 Morten Mortensen murder case in Aarhus, involving a bank robbery and the shooting of a motorcycle officer. Scandinavian cases feature prominently: the Gösta Andersson case in the Skåne and Øresund region, where a body was discovered in a locked car in a forest, and the 1993 Oslo Espen murder case, notorious for its connection to the black metal scene and the victim's 23 stab wounds. A Norwegian case from Bryne in August 2001 involving the murder of a woman rounds out the international scope.
This geographic and thematic range reflects an important truth about true crime content: listeners are drawn not just to sensationalism, but to stories that illuminate how criminal investigation actually works, how communities respond to violence, and how justice systems grapple with extraordinary cases. Hylander's approach—treating each case with documentary rigor rather than tabloid sensationalism—appears to have resonated with a global audience.
The podcast's success extends beyond the digital sphere. True Story hosted a live event at Hotel Cecil on March 29, running from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, bringing the podcast's investigative storytelling to a physical audience. This expansion into live events suggests both the podcast's financial viability and its cultural relevance within Scandinavia and beyond.
For international listeners unfamiliar with Scandinavian crime coverage, True Story offers an accessible entry point into cases that shaped regional discussions about crime, policing, and justice. The podcast's website at truestorypodcast.dk serves as a hub for additional information, though the show's real strength lies in Hylander's narrative voice and the careful construction of each episode.
With over 5 million listens accumulated, True Story has transcended the typical niche of true crime podcasting. It represents a model where serious journalistic investigation meets sophisticated audio storytelling—proving that international audiences will invest time in criminal cases from unfamiliar jurisdictions when the research is rigorous and the presentation is compelling.
Sources: https://www.radio-danmark.dk/podcasts/true-story3 https://migogkbh.dk/kalender/begivenhed/true-story-live/ https://podcasts.apple.com/zw/podcast/true-story/id1457318724 https://truestorypodcast.dk https://podcastrepublic.net/podcast/1457318724
